OLYMPICS

Departmental Computers

Mark Hoban: To ask the Minister for the Olympics how many laptop computers have been provided to  (a) her,  (b) her special advisers and  (c) civil servants in the Government Olympic Executive in each year since 2005; and at what cost.

Tessa Jowell: I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by the Parliamentary Secretary, Cabinet Office, my hon. Friend the Member for West Bromwich, East (Mr. Watson) on 21 April 2009,  Official Report, columns 549-50W.
	Figures for the Government Olympic Executive were included in the reply given by the Under-Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, my hon. Friend the Member for Bradford, South (Mr. Sutcliffe) on 2 April 2009,  Official Report, column 1377W.

Departmental Mobile Phones

Mark Hoban: To ask the Minister for the Olympics how much has been spent on  (a) the purchase of and  (b) bills for (i) BlackBerrys and (ii) other mobile telephones for (A) her, (B) her special advisers and (C) civil servants in the Government Olympic Executive in each year since its establishment.

Tessa Jowell: I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary for the Cabinet Office, (Tom Watson) on 21 May 2009,  Official Report, column 550W.
	Figures for the Government Olympic Executive were included in the reply given by my hon. Friend the Minister for Sport on 2 April 2009,  Official Report, column 1377W.

Government Olympic Executive: Manpower

Hugh Robertson: To ask the Minister for the Olympics how many people have been employed in the Government Olympic Executive in each year since 2005.

Tessa Jowell: holding answer 15 May 2009
	The number of staff (full-time equivalents (FTEs)) working in the Government Olympic Executive (GOE) and its predecessor, the Olympic Games Unit, has risen over the last five years as follows.
	
		
			  End of financial year  Number of FTEs 
			 2004-05 (1)10 
			 2005-06 (1)30 
			 2006-07 44.3 
			 2007-08 62.3 
			 2008-09 89.4 
			 (1) Approximately 
		
	
	This planned increase in staffing (a) reflects the wider role the GOE has taken on during this period—GOE is now the only organisation overseeing the entire Olympic project, integrating the work of multiple delivery bodies, and ensuring the Games is delivered within the £9.3 billion public sector funding provision; (b) is a planned response to the expected growth in work to deliver the Government's commitments and guarantees, as 2012 approaches; and (c) is consistent with GOE's staffing and resource plan for 2008-09 to 2010-11, which was agreed early in 2008.
	GOE headcount is expected to peak this summer at about 95 FTE, as a result of the recent recruitment of interim resources to focus on an integrated delivery assurance project across the programme, after which it is expected to reduce towards 90 FTE. There are no plans for GOE headcount to grow further before 2012.

Government Olympic Executive: Operating Costs

Hugh Robertson: To ask the Minister for the Olympics what the operational costs of the Government Olympic Executive have been in each year since 2005.

Tessa Jowell: holding answer 15 May 2009
	The Government Olympic Executive (GOE) is responsible for overseeing the successful delivery of the entire London 2012 Games Programme, integrating the work of multiple delivery bodies, safeguarding and maximising the value of the Government's investment ensuring the Games is delivered within the £9.3 billion public sector funding provision, and maximising the benefits of the Games for the whole of the UK.
	The expenditure of the GOE, part of the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, and its predecessor, the Olympic Games Unit, for the completed financial years since 2004-05 are as follows:
	
		
			   £ million 
			 2004-05 0.6 
			 2005-06 1.4 
			 2006-07 3.1 
			 2007-08 5.4 
			 2008-09 (provisional outturn) 7.9 
		
	
	This increase in expenditure over the period:
	(a) reflects the increased role that the GOE has taken on during this period;
	(b) is a planned response to the expected growth in work to deliver the Government's commitments and guarantees, to spread the benefits of the Games across the UK as 2012 approaches; and
	(c) is consistent with GOE's staffing and resource plan for 2008-09 to 2010-11, agreed in early 2008.

Olympic Games 2012: Construction

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Minister for the Olympics 
	(1)  for what reasons the construction of the  (a) North Olympic site and  (b) Olympic site has been delayed; and what steps she is taking to reduce that delay;
	(2)  if she will make an assessment of the potential for further delays to the  (a) construction of the North Olympic site and  (b) landscaping deadlines for growing the plants required for the Olympic site;
	(3)  what recent representations she has received from the landscaping and horticultural firms contracted to provide services on the Olympic site on the effects on them of changes in the timetable for construction of the Olympic site;
	(4)  what assessment she has made of the likely effects on horticultural companies providing plants for the  (a) North Olympic and  (b) Olympic site of delays to construction at the Olympic site.

Tessa Jowell: The overall construction programme for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic games continues on track, with no delay in the construction of the Olympic Park or in the construction of the parklands in the North of the Park.
	The delivery contractor, Bam Nuttall, is currently procuring a number of specialist subcontractors and suppliers through a series of packages and is on track to start delivery of the Northern parklands later this spring. The contracts for the hard and soft landscaping of the South Park are due for award later in 2009, with on-site work to start in early 2010. These are in line with planned dates for such contracts to be let.
	Further to those packages already at an advanced stage of procurement, there will be many more opportunities for landscaping and horticultural suppliers registered on the London 2012 CompeteFor website in areas, including the supply of thousands of younger woodland trees, shrubs and other plants scheduled for planting nearer games-time.
	In consultation with landscaping industry expertise (including the British Association of Landscape Industries, the Horticultural Trades Association, Greening the Games—an industry-wide lobby group—as well as expert industry contractors and suppliers) the Olympic Delivery Authority has given careful consideration to the number of growing seasons available for the plant stock proposed across the park and is confident that there is sufficient time to ensure an excellent games-time park.

Olympic Games 2012: Essex

David Amess: To ask the Minister for the Olympics what assessment the Government Olympic Executive (GOE) has made since December 2008 of the economic effects of the London 2012 Olympics on  (a) Essex and  (b) Southend West constituency; what recent discussions she had with the GOE on this issue; and if she will make a statement.

Tessa Jowell: The Government Olympic Executive has not made a specific assessment of the economic effects of the London 2012 Olympics and Paralympics on Essex or Southend West. However, the East of England stands to gain from the wide range of opportunities created by the London 2012 games. These include businesses winning games-related work, increased tourism and improved skills and employment opportunities. The games, including pre-games training camps, will enable regions to attract inward investment and showcase themselves on an international stage, and UK Trade and Investment are helping businesses to use 2012 as a springboard for export.
	We are already seeing progress in a lot of these areas, for example 23 of the Olympic Delivery Authority's suppliers are businesses registered in Essex. Additionally, 66 facilities from the region, including Southend Leisure and Tennis Centre in Essex are included in the official London 2012 Pre-Games Training Camp Guide.

Olympic Games 2012: Essex

David Amess: To ask the Minister for the Olympics how many suppliers based in  (a) Southend-on-Sea and  (b) Essex have been awarded contracts by the Olympic Delivery Authority to date; and if she will make a statement.

Tessa Jowell: To the end of March 2009, 23 suppliers registered in Essex had been awarded contracts by the Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA). Currently no businesses registered in Southend-on-Sea are directly supplying the ODA.
	The East of England Development Agency recently organised a programme of events for the chairman of the ODA, John Armitt on 18 March, which included a visit to a major business conference at Colchester FC and meetings with companies in the region that have won work supplying the ODA. Details of this and similar events, and information on CompeteFor (the electronic brokerage service for buyers and suppliers) are provided in the business section of the London 2012 website:
	www.london2012.com

CULTURE MEDIA AND SPORT

Departmental Air Conditioning

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many of his Department's buildings are equipped with air conditioning systems with greater than 250kW of output; how many of these systems have been inspected under the Energy Performance of Buildings (Certificates and Inspections) (England and Wales) Regulations 2007; and if he will place in the Library a copy of the results.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The Department for Culture, Media and Sport has one building with an air conditioning system with greater than 250 kW of output. This air conditioning system will need to be inspected in accordance with the Energy Performance of Buildings Regulations (2007/991). The inspection will be completed shortly.
	Copies of the display energy certificates and their associated advisory reports in respect of each property occupied by my Department and its agencies have been deposited in the House Library.

Departmental Buildings

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much his Department spent on building maintenance in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The Department for Culture, Media and Sport spent the following amounts on building maintenance in each of the last five years:
	
		
			   £ 
			 2008-09 312,682.94 
			 2007-08 495,747.01 
			 2006-07 598,354.08 
			 2005-06 512,458.73 
			 2004-05 433,051.28

Departmental Pay

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much  (a) his Department and  (b) its agency paid in end-of-year performance bonuses to (i) all staff and (ii) senior Civil Service staff in 2008-09; and how many such payments were made.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The information is as follows:
	 Department of Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS)
	Total pay bill was £24,534,890, of which 2.37 per cent. was used for non-consolidated in year and year end performance payments. These non-consolidated payments were paid to staff in the year 2008-09 for the performance year 2007-08. For the senior civil service (SCS), the size of the non-consolidated performance pay pot is based on recommendations by the independent senior salaries review body.
	
		
			  2008-09  All staff  Senior civil service (SCS) staff 
			 Number of year end non-consolidated performance payments 221 25 
			 Median (£) 1,200 7,000 
			 Total cost (£) 499,647 254,750 
			  Note: The permanent secretary also received a non-consolidated performance payment in 2008. 
		
	
	 Royal Parks
	Total pay bill was £4,458,312, of which 0.75 per cent. was used for non-consolidated in year and year end performance payments. These non-consolidated payments were paid to staff in the year 2008-09 for the performance year 2007-08.
	
		
			  2008-09  All staff  Senior civil service (SCS) staff 
			 Number of year end non-consolidated performance payments 19 (1)— 
			 Median (£) 510 (1)— 
			 Total cost (£) 25,160 (1)— 
			 (1) This information is not available due to the small number of SCS staff involved (less than five). 
		
	
	The Department for Culture, Media and Sport and its agency the Royal Parks make non consolidated payments to their staff to reward highly successful performance over a whole year (e.g. targets exceeded). All non-consolidated payments are funded within existing pay controls, have to be re-earned each year against pre-determined targets and as such do not add to future pay bill costs. This year the Government have responded positively to current economic conditions by freezing the size of the SCS 'pot' set aside for non-consolidated payments.

Industrial Health and Safety

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much his Department spent on compliance with requirements of health and safety at work legislation in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The Department spent the following on compliance with requirements of health and safety at work legislation:
	
		
			   £ 
			 2004-05 11,596.60 
			 2005-06 28,451.75 
			 2006-07 25,255.14 
			 2007-08 30,355.26 
			 2008-09 31,757.97

Mass Media: Ownership

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will commission research on the effects on the UK media industry of foreign ownership of UK media outlets.

Andy Burnham: There are no plans to commission research into the effects of foreign ownership on UK media outlets. However, Ofcom are currently conducting a review of the media ownership regime. Although this will not specifically consider foreign ownership, it will take a view on the ownership structures as a whole. This review will conclude later this year.

Sports: Disabled

Iain Duncan Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what steps his Department is taking in respect of the provision of sports facilities for disabled children.

Andy Burnham: holding answer 1 April 2009
	Through the Physical Education and Sport Strategy for Young People (PESSYP), 250 multi-sports clubs were established in 2008-09, providing opportunities for young disabled people to take part in sport. The strategy aims to deliver a total of 450 new multi-sport clubs by 2011.
	In addition, the Government have built on the Disability Discrimination Act 1995, setting down a clear framework that requires sports clubs to make reasonable adjustments to the way their services provide for disabled people and where necessary adjust the physical features of their premises.

Swimming

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment he has made of the expected contribution of swimming to Olympics legacy targets for participation in sports.

Gerry Sutcliffe: Sport England has commissioned the Amateur Swimming Association (ASA) to deliver outcomes against Grow, Sustain and Excel. The ASA has been offered an award of £20,875,000 over the period 2009 to 2013 to drive these outcomes. Sport England is awaiting acceptance of this offer.
	The ASA award agreement specifies that the ASA will grow the sport by 270,000 additional participants swimming for 30 minutes once a week (increasing the total of one x 30 16+ swimmers to 3,514,400) by 2012-13. It should be noted that Sport England's overall growth target is to get 1 million more people playing sport for 30 minutes three times a week by 2012-13. Recognising that most people who achieve three x 30 minutes per week do so through a combination of different sports, the individual National Governing Bodies have therefore been given goals expressed in terms of one x 30 minutes per week that will aggregate together.
	In addition, the ASA award agreement sets out that the ASA will increase the total number of young people (five to 19) participating in swimming clubs from 136,327 to 159,483 by 2012-13. These figures for young people refer to the number of young people participating in swimming clubs, not the number of young people participating in swimming more generally.

Television: Standards

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many representations he has received on television programmes with content claimed to be unsuitable for viewing being broadcast before the watershed in each of the last five years.

Andy Burnham: The information requested could be provided only at disproportionate cost. Approximately 50 per cent. of the correspondence received by the Department on broadcasting is about content of which quite a large proportion is about the watershed.

VisitEngland: Finance

Tobias Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much VisitEngland has budgeted to spend on administration costs in 2009-10.

Barbara Follett: VisitBritain have confirmed that the total VisitEngland grant in aid budget for 2009-10, including VisitEngland's proportion of shared costs with VisitBritain, is £11,724,000.
	Of that budget VisitEngland has allocated £2,874,000 to administration and property costs.

SCOTLAND

Departmental Billing

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how much his Department paid in interest to suppliers under the Late Payment of Commercial Debts (Interest) Act 1998 in the last three years for which figures are available.

Ann McKechin: None.

Industrial Health and Safety

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how much his Department spent on compliance with requirements of health and safety at work legislation in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

Ann McKechin: Information is not available in the form requested. Details on the cost of compliance with requirements of health and safety at work legislation are not recorded in a way that such information could be disaggregated.

WALES

Departmental Pay

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how much his Department paid in end-of-year performance bonuses to  (a) all staff and  (b) senior Civil Service staff in 2008-09; and how many such payments were made.

Paul Murphy: The Wales Office paid £6,000 in end-of-year performance bonuses to five staff. There were no payments to senior civil service staff.

Departmental Reviews

Shailesh Vara: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many  (a) review and  (b) taskforce projects his Department has commissioned in each of the last five years; what the purpose of each such project is; when each such project (i) began and (ii) was completed; what the cost of each such project was; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Murphy: The Wales Office has adopted a project management approach to various tasks, such as implementation of the Government of Wales Act 2006, but not commissioned any external reviews or taskforces.

Employment Tribunals Service

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many actions under employment law were brought against his Department in each of the last three years, broken down by category of action; and how many were contested by the Department at an employment tribunal.

Paul Murphy: Only one action under employment law has been brought against the Wales Office in the last three years to which a response has only recently been filed and therefore the matter has not yet progressed to employment tribunal stage.

TRANSPORT

Departmental Air Conditioning

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many of his Department's buildings are equipped with air conditioning systems with greater than 250kW of output; how many of these systems have been inspected under the Energy Performance of Buildings (Certificates and Inspections) (England and Wales) Regulations 2007; and if he will place in the Library a copy of each inspection report.

Geoff Hoon: The requested information is provided in the following table:
	
		
			  Organisational unit  Number of buildings  Number of inspections 
			  DFT Central   
			 London HQ(1) 2 1 
			 Air Accidents Investigation Branch 0 n/a 
			 Rail Accident Investigation Branch 0 n/a 
			
			 Ex ecutive Agency   
			 Driving Standards Agency(2) 1 1 
			 Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency(3) 6 6 
			 Government Car and Despatch Agency 0 n/a 
			 Highways Agency 7 28 
			 Maritime and Coastguard Agency(2) 2 2 
			 Vehicle and Operator Services Agency 0 n/a 
			 Vehicle Certification Agency 0 n/a 
			 (1) New chillers installed on certain units and due for installation at others. Inspection to be arranged. (2) Display Energy Certificate and Inspection Report placed in the Library. (3) The reports are currently with Chartered Institute of Building Services Engineers (CIBSE) for agreement due to the limited availability of assessors. 
		
	
	The Department for Transport will place in the Library a copy of the display energy certificates and their associated advisory reports in respect of each property occupied by the Department and its agencies.

Driving: Licensing

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make it his policy to reissue official photocard driving licences with all prior entitlements without the need for the applicant to provide proof of completion for each individual class; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Fitzpatrick: There is no requirement for applicants to routinely provide proof of their driver entitlement when applying for a replacement photocard licence. The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) will renew photocard licences that reflect the driving entitlement recorded on the applicant's driving record. On receipt of a new licence, drivers are asked to check the accuracy of the document and raise with DVLA any concerns they have. If the customer claims an entitlement that is not shown on the licence, DVLA will investigate.

Local Transport Act 2008

Paul Rowen: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he plans to publish guidance on the quality contracts provided for by the Local Transport Act 2008; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Clark: We will be consulting on draft regulations and guidance before the summer recess, with a view to bringing provisions into force by the end of the year.

Newhaven Marine Railway Station

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport for what reason a closure process for Newhaven Marine station has not been initiated.

Paul Clark: Newhaven Marine station is owned by Network Rail and as such it is up to them to review options for the future of the station. If Network Rail were to conclude they wished to close this station they would be required to follow the procedures under the Railways Act 2005, including a full consultation.

Private Roads: Lancashire

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent estimate he has made of the number of miles of unadopted road in Lancashire.

Paul Clark: The Department for Transport holds no record of the number of miles of unadopted roads in Lancashire. The last recorded figures based on a 1972 survey, suggested there were around 40,000 such roads within the UK. We have no information on how many of these roads have since been adopted or how many new unadopted roads have been created.

Railways: Finance

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what proportion of the cost of running the rail network was met from passenger revenue in  (a) 1997 and  (b) 2003; and what proportion he estimates will be so met in (i) 2009 and (ii) 2013.

Paul Clark: Details of historic passenger revenue and Government support are set out in "National Rail Trends" which is published by the Office of Rail Regulation.
	An estimate of passenger revenue alongside planned Government support for the railway up until 2013-14 is set out in the White Paper, "Delivering a Sustainable Railway" which was published in July 2007. Copies of both documents are available in the Libraries of the House.

Railways: Franchises

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether the bond deposited by a train operating company awarded a rail franchise is fully forfeit in the event of a unilateral termination of the franchise by that company.

Paul Clark: In the event that a franchise is terminated the performance bond would be called. However, the bond can only be used to cover costs. As such if there are any funds left after those costs have been discharged we would have to repay the balance.

Railways: Franchises

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what meetings his Department has had with each rail franchise company in each month of 2009; and what requests from such companies to modify franchise agreements he has received in that period.

Paul Clark: Meetings are held regularly with each train operating company (TOC) during the normal course of business. These include regular formal franchise performance meetings with each TOC every four weeks. There are also a range of meetings about various projects which impact on operations and working level meetings around specific aspects of franchise delivery.
	During the normal course of business TOCs may request contract changes and derogations to the franchise agreement. However, the Department for Transport does not accept changes which amount to renegotiating terms of the franchise agreements.

Railways: Freight

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform on rail freight transport; and what steps he is taking to increase the proportion of freight transported by rail.

Paul Clark: There have been no discussions on rail freight transport with the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform.
	To encourage the transfer of freight from road to rail we have recently announced additional funding of £67 million to the Sustainable Distribution Fund. £61 million of this is allocated to the capital budget from which the Freight Facilities Grant allocations are made.
	In the last two years the Government have announced record levels of rail freight investment to support continued growth including £200 million towards the development of a Strategic Freight Network and over £150 million of funding towards the provision of infrastructure enhancement for freight through the Productivity Transport Innovation Fund.

Railways: South West

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will assess the effect of the removal of South West Trains services west of Exeter from December 2009 on the economy.

Paul Clark: Analysis conducted as part of the franchise replacement process recommended the withdrawal of the four South Western services per weekday west of Exeter. From a National Rail perspective loss of revenue is minimal as there are alternative services operated by other train operators, with clear national financial benefit for this change of circa £5.5 million net present value (NPV) over the franchise. This will enable an hourly service to be introduced between Exeter and London Waterloo, a long held local and regional authority ambition, which will have a significant benefit to the Devon economy.

Roads: Accidents

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the answer of 8 May 2009,  Official Report, columns 488-89W, on roads: accidents, how many of the drivers of  (a) heavy goods vehicles,  (b) light goods vehicles and  (c) cars referred to in the table had (i) foreign and (ii) UK driving licences in (A) 2003, (B) 2004, (C) 2005, (D) 2006 and (E) 2007.

Jim Fitzpatrick: I refer my right hon. Friend to my answer of 18 May 2009,  Official Report, columns 1129-30W.

Transport: Exhaust Emissions

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will assess the merits of a carbon reduction fund relating to transport.

Neil Gerrard: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the merits of the establishment of a carbon reduction fund for transport.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The Department for Transport is currently looking very closely at the best ways of reducing greenhouse gas emissions from transport and has received representations from a number of groups advocating a Carbon Reduction Fund.
	When making decisions about transport expenditure we aim to do so in a way that delivers across all of our goals as set out in the 'Delivering a Sustainable Transport System' consultation. In this context we will set out our policies and proposals for reducing greenhouse gas emissions from transport as part of our Carbon Reduction Strategy in the summer.

NORTHERN IRELAND

Crimes of Violence

Alasdair McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many violent crimes were committed in  (a) Northern Ireland and  (b) Belfast in each of the last three years.

Paul Goggins: That is an operational matter for the Chief Constable. I have asked him to reply directly to the hon. Member, and a copy of his letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

Departmental Buildings

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much his Department spent on building maintenance in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Goggins: The following table shows expenditure on building maintenance by the Northern Ireland Office, excluding its agencies and executive non-departmental public bodies, in each of the last five years:
	
		
			   Building maintenance (£000) 
			 2004-05 2,727 
			 2005-06 2,234 
			 2006-07 2,600 
			 2007-08 1,792 
			 2008-09 2,760 
		
	
	Building maintenance includes work where the primary aim is routine repair and/or replacement of existing facilities.

Departmental Mobile Phones

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many  (a) BlackBerry devices and  (b) mobile telephones have been lost by (i) Ministers, (ii) special advisers and (iii) civil servants in his Department in each year since 2005.

Paul Goggins: In 2005, two mobiles belonging to civil servants were lost and one belonging to a special adviser was stolen. In 2006 two mobiles belonging to civil servants were lost. In 2007 six mobiles phones belonging to civil servants were lost.
	In 2005, one BlackBerry belonging to a special adviser was stolen. No other phones or BlackBerrys were lost by Ministers, special advisers or civil servants.

Departmental Stationery

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much his Department spent on the purchase of  (a) recycled office supplies in the last 12 months and  (b) printer ink cartridges in each of the last five years.

Shaun Woodward: The Northern Ireland Office (NIO) does not record details of expenditure under the descriptions requested therefore it would be possible to extract these costs only at disproportionate cost.
	The Northern Ireland Office has a policy on the use of recycled paper for printing and copying which states that 100 per cent. recycled paper is mandatory.
	In addition the Northern Ireland Office has a policy of recycling used ink cartridges.

Drugs: Seizures

Eddie McGrady: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many drug seizures were carried out by the Police Service of Northern Ireland in each policing district in each of the last five years.

Paul Goggins: That is an operational matter for the Chief Constable. I have asked him to reply directly to the hon. Member, and a copy of his letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

HOUSE OF COMMONS COMMISSION

Catering

Paul Burstow: To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission what estimate the House of Commons Commission has made of the number of  (a) styrofoam and  (b) plastic food service items used in House of Commons cafeterias in each of the last 12 months for which figures are available.

Nick Harvey: The House of Commons catering service estimates that it has used the following number of  (a) Styrofoam and  (b) plastic food service items in its cafeterias in each of 12 accounting periods from April 2008-March 2009:
	
		
			(b) Plastic food service items 
			   (a) Styrofoam  (i) food containers  (ii) cutlery  (iii) lids for drinks cups 
			 Period 1 0 8,450 22,200 6,000 
			 Period 2 0 15,650 25,000 14,000 
			 Period 3 67,150 31,849 108,100 46,000 
			 Period 4 0 15,950 28,200 19,000 
			 Period 5 11,000 11,050 51,000 23,000 
			 Period 6 0 10,500 40,100 11,000 
			 Period 7 0 2,550 16,000 7,000 
			 Period 8 0 32,911 102,400 53,000 
			 Period 9 0 12,750 39,100 34,000 
			 Period 10 0 10,550 37,000 25,000 
			 Period 11 0 13,550 58,000 50,000 
			 Period 12 0 22,950 66,000 49,000 
			 Total 2008-09 78,150 188,710 593,100 337,000 
		
	
	Styrofoam items were being phased out of use during 2008-09 but were re-introduced briefly during two periods due to technical issues with the replacement products. An estimated 300,000 cardboard cups were used during the year in replacement of Styrofoam cups previously used.
	Work has also been done to reduce the environmental impact of plastic food service items used by the catering department. Over 40 per cent. of the plastic food containers listed above were made from recycled plastics and the total number of plastic food containers used in 2008-09 was reduced by an estimated 140,000 by switching to bio-degradable containers manufactured from a by-product of the sugar refining industry. The House of Commons catering service is continuing to test more environmentally-friendly disposable products as new products become available and hopes to reduce even further the remaining usage of oil-based plastics.

ICT

Paul Burstow: To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission how much has been spent on the provision of air conditioning to cool servers on the House of Commons estate in each of the last three years.

Nick Harvey: The expenditure associated with the provision of cooling to server rooms has three main components: capital expenditure associated with new equipment, electricity costs, and maintenance costs.
	 Capital expenditure
	The parliamentary estates directorate (PED) has not carried out any new projects providing cooling for server rooms during the last three years. During this period however PED has provided additional cooling to rooms which house communications and computer equipment associated with servers. The overall cost of this work is estimated to have been approximately £25,000 per year.
	 Electrical energy consumption
	Due to fluctuating energy prices and the complexities of the individual buildings' tariff structures it is not possible to estimate accurately the cost of energy used by all of the cooling equipment associated with server rooms. However PED has used an estimated average electrical energy cost of 10p/kWh to calculate an approximate cost associated with electrical energy of £124,000 per year.
	 Cost of maintenance
	PED maintenance engineers routinely carry out cyclical maintenance works and attend call outs involving the repair and replacement of defective cooling plant. The cost of these works is included within general maintenance contracts which cover large items of cooling plant, some of which serve more than one location. This makes it difficult to accurately assess the cost of maintenance directly attributable to server room cooling alone. PED however estimate the cost of maintenance tasks associated with server cooling equipment to be approximately £9,000 per year(1).
	The total estimated annual cost is £158,000.
	(1) Estimated using BSRIA rules of thumb BG14/2003 table 7.

Members: Data Protection

Julian Lewis: To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission what legal responsibilities the House authorities have under the Data Protection Act 1998 to keep hon. Members'  (a) home addresses,  (b) ex-directory telephone numbers,  (c) bank account details and  (d) other personal information secure; and if he will make a statement.

Nick Harvey: The House's Corporate Officer is the data controller for the purposes of the Data Protection Act 1998 in respect of personal data held by the House Departments. The Corporate Officer, like any other data controller, must comply with the 1998 Act in respect of any personal data processed by the House Departments.

Ventilation

Paul Burstow: To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission what the House of Commons Commission's most recent assessment is of the efficiency of the ventilation systems in each building in the House of Commons part of the parliamentary estate.

Nick Harvey: The efficiency of the numerous ventilation systems across the parliamentary estate is not monitored.
	However, the associated plant and controls are continually monitored via the various building management systems installed to confirm correct and continued operation.
	In addition, the effectiveness of the ventilation systems is maintained against the installed design parameters by regular maintenance.

DEFENCE

Afghanistan: Peacekeeping Operations

Diane Abbott: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps his Department is taking to afford special protection from military action for Afghan citizens, with particular reference to women and children, as required under international humanitarian law.

Bob Ainsworth: UK personnel operate at all times under rules of engagement which ensure that force is used in accordance with international humanitarian law. This ensures that civilian casualties and damage to civilian infrastructure are minimised. This does not, however, restrict the inherent right of self defence that enables our military personnel to defend themselves. The rules of engagement are reviewed regularly to ensure that they remain effective and compliant with international law.

Afghanistan: Peacekeeping Operations

David Winnick: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he has considered a timetable for the withdrawal of British troops from Afghanistan; whether he has had recent discussions on the matter with other states involved in military operations; and if he will make a statement.

Bob Ainsworth: The UK's strategy for Afghanistan is long-term and based on a comprehensive approach to security, political, social and economic development.
	At the recent NATO summit in April 2009, allies reiterated their commitment to support Afghanistan in building security, both in the short term during the crucial election period and in the long term; when the focus of this support will shift further towards strengthening Afghan security forces to take responsibility themselves.
	We have always made clear that we would keep the commitment of UK forces under review.

Armed Forces Day

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans his Department has to mark Armed Forces Day on 27 June 2009 through national events; and if he will make a statement.

Kevan Jones: The aim of armed forces day is to honour Britain's armed forces, past, present and future and it is hoped that all former and currently serving members of the forces will fully embrace the concept of the day. The Historic Dockyard Chatham will host the inaugural armed forces day national event on Saturday 27 June 2009. The event will include a parade through Chatham town centre, a drumhead service, flypasts of military aircraft and a range of other activities in the Dockyard throughout the day.
	To enable communities across the UK to be involved in this inaugural year, we have also invited all local authorities to fly a flag for our armed forces. Over 460 of the 480 borough, city, district and county councils across the UK, Channel Islands and the Isle of Man that have been invited to participate in the fly the flag event have registered to take part, as have the Governors in Gibraltar and the Falkland Islands. The intention is that this ceremony will be repeated across the country at 1030 on Monday 22 June, synchronised with similar ceremonies where we have forces deployed overseas, and that the flags will be flown until after armed forces day itself.
	The MOD is also supporting over 80 community events across the country with major events in every region. A full list of events can be found at the armed forces day website at the following link:
	www.armedforcesday.org.uk

Armed Forces: Pensions

Andrew Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he last met the chairman of each war pension committee.

Kevan Jones: holding answer 12 May 2009
	My predecessor, the former Under-Secretary of State for Defence and Minister for Veterans, my hon. Friend the Member for Halton (Derek Twigg) attended the War Pensions Committee Chairmen's conference in September 2008.

Armed Forces: Pensions

Andrew Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the cost to his Department was of each war pension committee in the last year for which figures are available.

Kevan Jones: holding answer 12 May 2009
	This information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. Members of War Pensions Committees are not paid but the overall total for their travel expenses and loss of earnings for financial year 2008-09 can be identified and was approximately £50,500.

Armed Forces: Pensions

Andrew Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many cases were handled by each war pension committee in the last year for which figures are available.

Kevan Jones: holding answer 12 May 2009
	During 2008 there were 28 cases where a panel of War Pension Committee members heard individual complaints about the way the Service Personnel and Veterans Agency had dealt with cases. These figures are broken down by WPC panel and provided in the following table.
	
		
			  WPC panel  Number of cases 
			 South East 4 
			 Eastern 4 
			 South West 4 
			 North West 7 
			 Northern Ireland 4 
			 Yorkshire and Humberside 2 
			 London 2 
			 West Midlands 1 
		
	
	In addition, individual WPC members are frequently contacted directly by individuals with concerns or inquiries about war pension related matters and are responded to directly. These numbers however, are not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Dismissal

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many members of staff in his Department and its agencies were dismissed  (a) for under-performance and  (b) in total in each of the last 10 years.

John Hutton: The following table provided details the numbers of staff who were dismissed from the Department in each calendar year since 2004.
	
		
			   Dismissals relating to under-performance  Total of all dismissals 
			 2004(1) 12 189 
			 2005 9 206 
			 2006 12 183 
			 2007 9 155 
			 2008 2 127 
			 2009(2) 1 56 
			 (1) Records for industrial employees were migrated onto the HR system in March 2004. Any dismissals involving industrial staff prior to this date are not included. (2) Numbers for 2009 are up to and including 30 April. 
		
	
	The figures exclude the MOD's trading fund agencies: ABRO, the Defence Aviation Repair Agency, the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory, Met Office and UK Hydrographic Office, as this information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Pay

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many staff employed in London on work contracted out by his Department earn less than £7.45 per hour.

Kevan Jones: holding answer 12 May 2009
	The information requested is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Work Experience

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many work placements his Department offered to  (a) school pupils,  (b) university students and  (c) graduates in each of the last five years.

Kevan Jones: The information requested is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Ex-servicemen: Military Decorations

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps his Department has taken to publicise availability of the veterans' badge.

Kevan Jones: All those leaving the Services now receive their HM Armed Forces Veterans Badge in their service leavers' pack. For others, the details of eligibility and the application process are advertised on the Veterans-UK website found at the following link:
	http://www.veterans-uk.info/new_badge/badge.html
	The badge has also been publicised through Government and ex-Service organisation publications and through local and national press articles featuring coverage of badge presentation ceremonies held by Ministers, MPs and external organisations. We are also promoting badge presentations as part of the armed forces day events to be held on 27 June this year. The position is kept under review, including the consideration of opportunities to provide further publicity for the scheme.

Military Bases: Aviation

Andrew Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will assess the effect of levels of handling equipment at military airports on the capacity to fulfil airbridge schedules.

Quentin Davies: The amount of handling equipment available for loading and unloading transport aircraft at military airports is sufficient to fulfil the operational airbridge schedule.

Pakistan: Deployment

Michael Ancram: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many British military personnel are serving in Pakistan; and in what capacities such personnel are serving.

Bob Ainsworth: I can confirm that there are currently 29 UK military personnel based in Pakistan undertaking a variety of roles, including training, liaison and diplomatic duties.
	The number of military personnel based in Pakistan varies from time to time. This can be for a variety of reasons, including revised tasking and changes to previous roles.

Rosyth Dockyard

Lindsay Roy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has for Rosyth dockyard to undertake refitting of Royal Navy  (a) frigates and  (b) other vessels after 2012.

Quentin Davies: The locations for future upkeep packages beyond 2012 have yet to be determined as part of the developing Surface Ship Support (SSS) Alliance.

ENVIRONMENT FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Agriculture: Research

Roger Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what funding his Department has provided for farming-related research and development in real terms in each year since 1997; and if he will make a statement.

Jane Kennedy: holding answer 12 May 2009
	DEFRA's spend profile on farming-related research and development is shown in the following table. Figures are not available prior to the formation of DEFRA in 2001.
	
		
			  £ million 
			   Total DEFRA R  and  D spend on sustainable farming and food  Total DEFRA R  and  D spend on animal health and welfare  Total DEFRA agricultural R  and  D spend 
			 2001-02 41 41 82 
			 2002-03 40 41 81 
			 2003-04 39 36 75 
			 2004-05 39 40 79 
			 2005-06 38 40 78 
			 2006-07 33 41 75 
			 2007-08 30 40 70 
			 2008-09 27 36 63 
			  Note: This information was taken from DEFRA's science information system database.

Bovine Tuberculosis

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what advice his Department offers to owners of domestic animals on the risk of tuberculosis transmission from wildlife in areas where there is a high incidence of bovine tuberculosis.

Jane Kennedy: DEFRA advises owners of domestic animals (i.e. cats and dogs) who suspect their animals may have been infected or may be at risk of becoming infected with TB to contact their private veterinary surgeon for advice in the first instance.

Compost

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs for what reasons the Waste and Resources Action Programme plans to end its support for subsidised composting bins for householders; on what date such support will end; and what estimate has been made of the average change in the cost to a householder of a compost bin as a result.

Jane Kennedy: The Waste and Resources Action Programme's (WRAP's) home composting campaign used central funding to subsidise the sale of home composting bins for five years. In that time two million home compost bins were sold and 40 per cent. of households with gardens are now home composting. It is estimated that, as a result of WRAP'S programme, more than 300,000 tonnes of organic waste have been diverted from the waste stream each year, resulting in significant waste management and disposal cost savings.
	Having demonstrated the benefits of promoting home composting, it was appropriate for local authorities to decide how home composting should fit within their waste strategies and for them to take responsibility for deciding on a suitable level of subsidy. WRAP stopped subsidising compost bins at the end of March 2009. As a result, the full cost of bins to consumers rose by an average of £8, except where the local authority decided to offer its own subsidy. A total of 37 waste disposal authorities are currently offering varying degrees of subsidy. WRAP will continue to promote home composting to the public and provide practical advice and support as part of a wider waste reduction programme.

Departmental Training

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much his Department has spent on IT training for its staff in each of the last five years.

Huw Irranca-Davies: DEFRA provides a 'shared' IT training service to a number of agencies and the spending of DEFRA will include the spending on IT training by those agencies on a consolidated accounting basis.
	IT training for DEFRA can be separated into two distinct areas:
	1. Regular spending on IT training for staff. This includes such activities as maintaining hardware and training new staff members in the use of the DEFRA systems. The overall spending on IT during the years 2004-05, 2005-06, 2006-07 and 2007-08 is contained in the 'Resource Accounts'. The annual reports are available at:
	http://www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/finance/resource-accounts
	and are in the Library. Providing more specific information on regular IT spend in earlier years can be done only at disproportionate cost.
	2. Project spending on IT training for staff. IT projects that will require trained staff will include the cost of that training within their budgets. Information on the costs of training alone or on the costs of IT work between 2004-08 are available only at disproportionate cost.

Domestic Waste: Waste Disposal

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  with reference to the answers to the hon. Member for Brentwood and Ongar (Mr. Pickles) of 30 April 2008,  Official Report, column 467W, and to the hon. Member for Beckenham (Mrs. Lait) of 9 October 2008,  Official Report, column 754W, on waste management: domestic wastes, if he will publish an updated table of the local authorities which operate residual household waste collections with a frequency of less than once a week, including those operating or planning to operate pilot schemes with that frequency;
	(2)  which local authorities operate residual household waste collections with a frequency of less than once a week, including those operating or planning to operate pilot schemes with that frequency.

Jane Kennedy: The Waste and Resources Action programme has provided the following list of local authorities operating residual household waste collections with a frequency of less than once a week, including pilot schemes. This represents WRAP'S best understanding but the situation can change rapidly.
	 Local authority
	Alnwick District Council
	Amber Valley Borough Council
	Ashfield District Council
	Babergh District Council
	Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council
	Bassetlaw District Council
	Berwick-upon-Tweed Borough Council
	Blackpool Borough Council
	Blyth Valley Borough Council
	Boston Borough Council
	Bracknell Forest Borough Council
	Braintree District Council
	Breckland District Council
	Bridgnorth District Council
	Bristol City Council
	Broadland District Council
	Bromsgrove District Council
	Broxtowe Borough Council
	Burnley Borough Council
	Cambridge City Council
	Cannock Chase District Council
	Canterbury City Council
	Carlisle City Council
	Castle Morpeth Borough Council
	Charnwood Borough Council
	Cherwell District Council
	Chesterfield Borough Council
	Chichester District Council
	Chiltern District Council
	Chorley Borough Council
	Copeland Borough Council
	Corby Borough Council
	Crewe and Nantwich Borough Council
	Dacorum Borough Council
	Daventry District Council
	Derby City Council
	Derwentside District Council
	Doncaster Metropolitan Borough Council
	East Hampshire District Council
	East Lindsey District Council
	Eastleigh Borough Council
	Ellesmere Port and Neston Borough Council
	Epping Forest District Council
	Erewash Borough Council
	Exeter City Council
	Fareham Borough Council
	Fenland District Council
	Forest Heath District Council
	Fylde Borough Council
	Gedling Borough Council
	Gosport Borough Council
	Great Yarmouth Borough Council
	Guildford Borough Council
	Hambleton District Council
	Harborough District Council
	Harrow London Borough Council
	Hart District Council
	Hartlepool Borough Council
	Hastings Borough Council
	Havant Borough Council
	Hertsmere Borough Council
	High Peak Borough Council
	Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council
	Huntingdonshire District Council
	Hyndburn Borough Council
	Ipswich Borough Council
	Kennet District Council
	Kettering Borough Council
	Kirklees Metropolitan Council
	Lancaster City Council
	Lichfield District Council
	Lincoln City Council
	London Borough of Bexley
	Macclesfield Borough Council
	Mansfield District Council
	Melton Borough Council
	Mendip District Council
	Mid Bedfordshire District Council
	Mid Devon District Council
	Mid Suffolk District Council
	Mid Sussex District Council
	Mole Valley District Council
	Newark and Sherwood District Council
	North Devon District Council
	North East Derbyshire District Council
	North Hertfordshire District Council
	North Kesteven District Council
	North Lincolnshire Council
	North Norfolk District Council
	North Shropshire District Council
	North West Leicestershire District Council
	Northampton Borough Council
	Norwich City Council
	Nottingham City Council
	Oldham Metropolitan Borough Council
	Oswestry Borough Council
	Oxford City Council
	Pendle Borough Council
	Peterborough City Council
	Preston City Council
	Purbeck District Council
	Reading Borough Council
	Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council
	Redditch Borough Council
	Rochdale Metropolitan Borough Council
	Rochford District Council
	Rossendale Borough Council
	Rother District Council
	Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council
	Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames
	Rushcliffe Borough Council
	Rushmoor Borough Council
	Ryedale District Council
	Scarborough Borough Council
	Sefton Metropolitan Borough Council
	Shepway District Council
	Shrewsbury and Atcham Borough Council
	South Bedfordshire District Council
	South Buckinghamshire District Council
	South Cambridgeshire District Council
	South Derbyshire District Council
	South Gloucestershire Council
	South Hams District Council
	South Kesteven District Council
	South Lakeland District Council
	South Norfolk District Council
	South Northamptonshire Council
	South Ribble Borough Council
	South Shropshire District Council
	South Somerset District Council
	South Staffordshire District Council
	Spelthorne Borough Council
	St. Edmundsbury Borough Council
	Stafford Borough Council
	Staffordshire Moorlands District Council
	Suffolk Coastal District Council
	Swale Borough Council
	Swindon Borough Council
	Tamworth Borough Council
	Taunton Deane Borough Council
	Teignbridge District Council
	Telford and Wrekin Borough Council
	Test Valley Borough Council
	Thanet District Council
	Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council
	Torbay Council
	Tunbridge Wells Borough Council
	Tynedale District Council
	Uttlesford District Council
	Vale Royal Borough Council
	Wakefield City Council
	Wansbeck District Council
	Warwick District Council
	Waveney District Council
	Waverley Borough Council
	Wealden District Council
	Wellingborough Borough Council
	West Lancashire District Council
	West Wiltshire District Council
	Weymouth and Portland Borough Council
	Winchester City Council
	Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council
	Woking Borough Council
	Worcester City Council
	Wycombe District Council
	Wyre Borough Council
	Wyre Forest District Council
	York City Council

Domestic Waste: Waste Disposal

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the answer of 12 March 2009,  Official Report, column 679W, on domestic waste: waste disposal, if he will place in the Library a copy of the WR1204 research report on completion.

Jane Kennedy: A copy of the WR1204 research report will be placed in the Library once it is published later this year.

Domestic Waste: Waste Disposal

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs with reference to the answer of 11 March 2008,  Official Report, column 222W, on domestic waste: waste disposal, whether any projects involved helping local authorities with introducing or operating alternate weekly collections.

Jane Kennedy: DEFRA provided funding directly to authorities, through the local authority support unit (LASU), to:
	resource technical support for waste compositional analysis;
	develop their wastes strategies; and
	formulate their procurement and planning approach.
	We did not fund any option specifically to deliver any particular collection approach. However, authorities may have explored the options mentioned as part of those available. All LASU case studies are available on the Waste Information Network website.

Domestic Waste: Waste Disposal

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs with reference to the answer to the hon. Member for Brentwood and Ongar (Mr. Pickles) of 24 November 2008,  Official Report, column 841W, on domestic waste: waste disposal, whether  (a) the Waste Improvement Network and  (b) the Waste and Resources Action programme have made estimates of the average cost per household to local waste collection authorities of domestic waste collection with (i) a weekly and (ii) an alternate weekly frequency.

Jane Kennedy: Neither the Waste Improvement Network not the Waste and Resources Action programme (WRAP) have made any such estimates.

Domestic Waste: Waste Disposal

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Peterborough (Mr. Jackson) of 17 March 2009,  Official Report, column 1007W, on domestic waste: waste disposal, which of the 10 councils awarded beacon status for best practice in waste collection have  (a) weekly and  (b) alternate weekly collections.

Jane Kennedy: Two of the bodies awarded beacon status for waste collection in 2007 are waste partnerships representing a total of 16 authorities. 14 of these have waste collection duties. Therefore, a total of 21 waste collection authorities received beacon status for waste collection. Of these, three now provide weekly collections and 18 provide alternate weekly collections.
	 Weekly collection
	East Cambridgeshire District Council
	Suffolk Coastal District Council
	London Borough of Sutton
	 Alternate weekly collection
	Babergh District Council
	London Borough of Bexley
	Cambridge City Council
	Daventry District Council
	East Hampshire District Council
	Fenland District Council
	Forest Heath District Council
	Huntingdonshire District Council
	Ipswich Borough Council
	Lichfield District Council
	Mid Suffolk District Council
	Peterborough City Council
	Preston City Council
	Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council
	Rushcliffe Borough Council
	South Cambridgeshire District Council
	St. Edmundsbury Borough Council
	Waveney District Council

Environmental Permitting Regulations 2007

David Kidney: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether he plans to bring forward proposals to amend the Environmental Permitting Regulations 2007 to take account of the ruling of the Court of Appeal in the case of OSS Group  v. the Environment Agency; and if he will make a statement.

Jane Kennedy: DEFRA does not have any plans to amend the Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2007 in the light of the ruling by the Court of Appeal.

Food Supply

Ian Gibson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what his most recent assessment is of progress in the delivery of the Government's commitment to the right to food as a fundamental human right.

Jane Kennedy: We are currently assessing the UK's contributions to the realisation of a right to food and will shortly be submitting a report to the UN Human Rights Council Special Rapporteur. The UK Government remain committed to working with international partners to enhance global food security in line with our millennium development goals (MDG), including MDG 1 on hunger, and to the progressive realisation of a right for all to have economic and physical access to safe and nutritious food—a commitment which was recently reaffirmed by G8 Agriculture Ministers in Treviso on 18-20 April.

Geographical Information Systems

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the answer of 4 February 2009,  Official Report, columns 1281-2W, on geographical information systems, whether the cadastral parcels used in implementation of the INSPIRE Directive will include property data held by  (a) the Land Registry,  (b) Ordnance Survey and  (c) the Valuation Office Agency.

Huw Irranca-Davies: Cadastral parcel datasets(1) held by or on behalf of public authorities will be in scope for implementation of the INSPIRE Directive. However, the implementing rules that will confirm the criteria to assess which datasets meet the definition of cadastral parcels will not be finalised before autumn 2009. Until the criteria have been agreed and assessed it is not possible to state explicitly whether datasets from specific organisations will be in scope.
	(1)( )Areas defined by cadastral registers or equivalent.

Joint Waste Authorities: Finance

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much seed-corn funding has been allocated to the first group of joint waste authorities.

Jane Kennedy: No joint waste authorities have been established.

Rabies

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what measures are in place to prevent the importation of rabies into the UK.

Jane Kennedy: Rabies-susceptible mammals are subject one of three sets of controls in place to prevent the importation of rabies: the Pet Travel scheme, quarantine or rules known as the Balai Directive which deal with the trade movement of certain animals and animal products.
	Pets entering the UK under the Pet Travel scheme must meet certain rules, including the need for a rabies vaccination and a blood test. They can only enter the UK on transport routes approved by the Animal Health Agency and all undergo a pre-entry identity and documentary check to ensure that they have met all of the rules of the scheme. If they meet these rules they do not need to enter quarantine on arrival.
	Animals subject to UK quarantine laws, for example pets from countries for which the Pet Travel scheme does not apply or zoo animals, must be issued with a rabies import licence issued by the Animal Health Agency before they can enter the UK. On arrival in the UK, these animals are immediately transported by an approved carrier to quarantine premises where they undergo six months' quarantine. These animals are under the control of authorised quarantines or travelling agents at all times and are subject to regular veterinary inspections.
	Rabies-susceptible mammals entering the UK under the Balai Directive must meet very strict pre-entry requirements including stringent bio-security at the premises of origin. They will also require a pre-entry veterinary health inspection and be accompanied by a official veterinary export health certificate.

Recycling

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what research his Department has  (a) commissioned and  (b) evaluated on the relative costs of using (i) landfill, (ii) incineration and (iii) crushing for the purposes of reuse and reclamation in relation to (A) construction and (B) domestic waste; and if he will make a statement.

Jane Kennedy: DEFRA's Waste and Resources Evidence programme has not commissioned any research into the areas mentioned.

Recycling

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much funding his Department has allocated to projects established to increase levels of  (a) reuse and  (b) source-separated recycling in the last five years; and whether the number of jobs involved was one of the criteria used in decisions to allocate funds to such projects.

Jane Kennedy: The Government believe that local authorities are best placed to make decisions for their own communities. How funding is allocated once projects are established is for the local authorities to decide and not within the remit of DEFRA.

Regulatory Enforcement and Sanctions Act 2008

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what powers his Department plans to provide to local authorities under the provisions of the Regulatory Enforcement and Sanctions Act 2008.

Jane Kennedy: DEFRA currently has no proposals to provide local authorities with additional powers under the provisions of the Regulatory Enforcement and Sanctions (RES) Act 2008.

Reservoirs: Ringmer

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment he has made of the potential effects on the Site of Special Scientific Interest at Ringmer, East Sussex of a proposed reservoir on an adjacent site; and if he will make a statement.

Huw Irranca-Davies: The proposed reservoir is subject to the due process of an environmental impact assessment which must consider in detail potential impacts on the site of special scientific interest (Plashett Park Wood). It is too early on in the process to conclude what the impact will be. Scoping of potential impacts has been undertaken along with a detailed baseline environmental survey. Statutory environmental bodies including Natural England are fully engaged in this process.

Reservoirs: Ringmer

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions he has had with Natural England on the potential effects on the environment of a reservoir at Ringmer, East Sussex; and if he will make a statement.

Huw Irranca-Davies: Natural England has expressed concern at the potential for the reservoir to have adverse hydrological impacts on neighbouring site of special scientific interest (SSSI) woodland as well as impacts on the viability of the rare butterfly populations and bats which use the SSSI. Other protected species' interests outside of the SSSI must also be considered (e.g. water voles in local watercourses). Natural England is working with South East Water through the statutory environment impact assessment process to ensure that these risks are properly understood.

Rights of Way: Coastal Areas

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what financial support his Department is providing to local authorities to increase  (a) public access to coastal areas and  (b) cleanliness and quality of beaches in 2009-10.

Huw Irranca-Davies: The coastal access provisions in the Marine and Coastal Access Bill will be implemented by Natural England (NE) who will enter into agreements with local access authorities in order that they undertake much of the detailed implementation work, where they are willing to do so. Such agreements will include provision for the relevant financial support to enable local access authorities to undertake this work. This cost accounts for part of the £50 million budget over 10 years that NE has provisionally estimated is required for the project. NE will fund the project from the core budget DEFRA provides it with.
	Under section 89 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990, local authorities have a duty to keep their relevant land, including beaches above the high water mark, clear of litter and refuse. The statutory Code of Practice on Litter and Refuse recommends those responsible for beaches regularly monitor them, and develop an appropriate cleansing regime. DEFRA does, however, provide grant funding support through EnCAMS (also known as Keep Britain Tidy) to run the national Quality Coast Award (QCA) and Blue Flag schemes designed to drive up the standards of beaches.
	EnCAMS recently announced that a total of 71 Blue Flags and 113 QCAs have been awarded to beaches in recognition of their high quality environments and facilities.

Rural Payments Agency: Official Hospitality

Anne Main: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much the Rural Payments Agency has spent on hospitality and entertainment in each of the last five years.

Jane Kennedy: The Rural Payments Agency (RPA) expenditure on hospitality in each of the last five financial years is as follows:
	
		
			  Financial year  Amount spent  (£) 
			 2004-05 57,000 
			 2005-06 81,000 
			 2006-07 105,000 
			 2007-08 95,000 
			 2008-09 (1)94,000 
			 (1) This amount is subject to audit by the National Audit Office in relation to the 2008-09 financial year. 
		
	
	Hospitality covers refreshments and working lunches provided for meetings and workshops where the attendees can include visitors to RPA from public bodies and other non public organizations as well as RPA staff.
	There is no RPA expenditure on entertainment.

Swine Flu

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will  (a) commission and  (b) evaluate research into the implications for animal health of the pathogenesis between species of the H1N1 strain of swine influenza, including transfer from humans to pigs.

Jane Kennedy: The Veterinary Laboratories Agency (VLA) is in the process of agreeing a programme of work to assess the transmission characteristics of H1N1 in certain animals and associated implications for animal health with the European Commission. It is expected that this will involve researchers from a number of member states. DEFRA is being kept fully informed of the progress of this initiative.
	Work has already started at VLA on a research study to determine whether the new H1N1 strain of influenza is transmissible to pigs, and if so, what the main characteristics of such an infection might be.

Swine Flu

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs from which countries the import of  (a) live pigs and  (b) pork carcasses is prohibited following the identification of swine influenza in pig herds.

Jane Kennedy: Swine influenza is not a notifiable or statutory disease and it is not listed by the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE). International standards for trade in animals and animal products do not impose any restrictions in respect of swine influenza virus infection for the protection of either animal or human health. Accordingly, the EU does not prohibit the import of live pigs or pig meat as a result of the presence of swine influenza in an approved third country from which they may legally be imported to the EU.
	The European Commission's Standing Committee for the Food Chain and Animal Health considers that from the evidence available from the recent outbreak of influenza in a pig farm in Canada restrictions in trade of pigs and their products would not be justified. As the World Health Organisation has made clear, this situation does not pose a food safety risk to consumers. Eating properly handled and cooked pork and pork products is perfectly safe.
	We will continue to work with international organisations to understand whether there is any unusual disease in pigs and whether any action to restrict trade would be appropriate.
	All animals and meat can only be imported to the European Community from third countries approved as having equivalent health status as member states. They must be accompanied by veterinary certification that must confirm, among other things, that live animals have been examined by an official veterinarian within 24 hours of loading and showed no clinical signs of disease. Meat must have been derived from animals which have been subjected to a veterinary inspection during the 24 hours prior to slaughter.
	Animals and meat imported into the European Community from approved third countries must enter at designated Border Inspection Posts (BIPs) where they are also subject to veterinary inspections.

Water Charges

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs which water companies are levying new surface water charges on non-domestic customers; and what the timetable is for the introduction of such charges by each company.

Huw Irranca-Davies: Four of the 10 water and sewerage companies in England and Wales have switched to site area charging for surface water drainage: Northumbrian Water, Severn Trent Water, United Utilities and Yorkshire Water.
	It is for individual companies to propose their schemes of charges, having regard to the relevant guidance, including the timetable for introducing any changes to charges, and for Ofwat to approve them.

Wildlife: Crime

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent discussions he has held with international counterparts on tackling the global illegal trade in wildlife.

Huw Irranca-Davies: Following a meeting with the then United States' Assistant Secretary of State for Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs, Claudia McMurray, I wrote to her on 16 January to confirm that our officials would work towards the UK taking over as the chair of the Coalition Against Wildlife Trafficking (CAWT) later this year. In addition the UK remains an active party to the convention on illegal trade in endangered species (CITES).

WOMEN AND EQUALITY

Equality

Mark Todd: To ask the Minister for Women and Equality whether there are plans for further investigation into evidence of caste discrimination in the UK following the informal survey carried out in preparation for the Equality Bill.

John Healey: I have been asked to reply.
	The Government are always willing to consider whether there is a case for legislating to prohibit caste discrimination, but to date insufficient evidence has been presented to indicate that this is a significant problem in the United Kingdom which is why it has not been included in the Equality Bill. However, the Government have agreed to undertake further research shortly into the extent of caste discrimination. As part of this, senior officials from my Department and the Government Equalities Office have already committed to meet a delegation representing organisations with an interest.

HOME DEPARTMENT

Asylum: Finance

Neil Gerrard: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the written ministerial statement of 19 March 2009,  Official Report, column 69WS, on asylum support, what estimate she has made of the initial cost of transferring the provision of section 4 support for asylum seekers to a plastic payment card system.

Phil Woolas: The costs for the initial implementation and running costs for the first year are estimated at £350,000. There are no immediate financial benefits following the transfer to a card based system but the new system will deliver improved management information which will provide better control over support costs.

Asylum: Offenders

Dominic Grieve: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many foreign national prisoners applied for asylum  (a) before their conviction and  (b) following their imprisonment in each of the last 12 months.

Phil Woolas: The information requested can be obtained only through the detailed examination of individual case files and cross-referencing these details with records held by the Prison Service which would incur a disproportionate cost. The chief executive of the UK Border Agency has regularly written to the Home Affairs Select Committee with all of the most robust and accurate information on the deportation of foreign national prisoners. Copies of her letters are available in the Library of the House.

Community Relations

Paul Rowen: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent discussions she has had with the Equality and Human Rights Commission on the implementation of the revised Contest strategy; and if she will make a statement.

Vernon Coaker: Home Office officials sent the Equality and Human Rights Commission details of the revised CONTEST strategy when it was launched in March. The Commission will be key stakeholders in the CONTEST Outreach programme that the Home Office is developing to take forward implementation of the strategy.

Criminal Records: EU Nationals

Mohammad Sarwar: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many EU nationals have been refused entry to the UK on the basis of previous criminal convictions in each of the last three years for which figures are available.

Phil Woolas: From 2006-08, 929 EU nationals were refused entry at the UK border on grounds relating to the public good.
	The annual breakdown is as follows:
	
		
			   Number of EU nationals refused entry to the UK 
			 2006 186 
			 2007 388 
			 2008 355 
		
	
	This includes, but is not limited to those EU nationals refused entry due to criminal convictions. This information could be obtained only by the detailed examination of individual records at disproportionate cost.
	The data provided are based on locally-collated management information, which may be subject to change and does not represent published national statistics.

Departmental Buildings

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the Government house in Pimlico at 62 South Eaton Place became empty.

Phil Woolas: I refer the hon. Member to the answer provided on 18 February 2008,  Official Report, column 455W.

Departmental Correspondence

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what procedure her Department follows for dealing with complaints received  (a) by e-mail,  (b) by post,  (c) by telephone and  (d) via her Department's website.

Phil Woolas: Complaints received by e-mail and post are forwarded to the relevant area of the Home Office or its agencies to be handled. Those who telephone the Home Office to make a complaint are asked to put it in writing to the Direct Communications Unit. At the bottom of every Home Office web page there is a 'Complaints' link, which opens the Complaints webpage with contact details for the Direct Communications Unit.

Departmental ICT

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on how many and what proportion of computers in her Department malware was detected in 2008.

Phil Woolas: It is not in the interests of the UK's national security for Departments to confirm information on the number of malicious attacks against their IT systems.
	The Home Office complies with Mandatory Requirement 39 of the Security Policy Framework which requires a policy on managing risks posed by all forms of malicious software ('malware').

Departmental Paper

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what her policy is on minimising the use of paper in her Department.

Phil Woolas: The Home Office is working to reduce all forms of waste, in line with the Sustainable Operations on the Government Estate targets. Accordingly a wide range of initiatives are currently in place within the Department to minimise the use of paper. Examples include: setting printers to print double sided by default; making some Home Office publications available only online and encouraging staff to avoid printing emails.

Deportation

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether her Department seeks advice from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office with regard to the safety of specific countries in respect of deportation cases.

Phil Woolas: The UK Border Agency obtains information about specific countries from a wide range of publicly accessible sources including governmental, non-governmental and international organisations and reliable media sources. The UK Border Agency works closely with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office to ensure that the picture obtained from these sources is an accurate one.
	Country plans/information, which are the Government's official assessment of the circumstances in specific countries, are public documents and can be found on the Home Office website.

Dual Nationality

Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many citizens of the United Kingdom hold dual citizenship; and what the top 10 most common nations of dual citizenship are, ranked in descending order.

Phil Woolas: This information is not available. British citizenship can be acquired in a number of ways. For those who acquire that status automatically, by birth or descent, we do not have information about any other nationalities that they might also hold. For those who acquire British citizenship by registration or naturalisation, the UK Border Agency has records of the nationality that was held at the time of the application, but do not have figures as to how many retained another nationality on becoming British.

Emergency Calls: Speech Impaired

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans her Department has to enable people who are deaf, speech-impaired or otherwise unable to use voice telephony to opt to use a short message text service for 999 or 112 emergency calls.

Vernon Coaker: holding answer 14 May 2009
	There are currently a number of regional schemes allowing the use of short message text access from mobile telephones for the hearing or speech impaired to the emergency services. Work to develop a national solution is being led by the National 999 Liaison Committee which is chaired by Department of Communities and Local Government. The National Policing Improvement Agency, on behalf of the Police Service, participates in this work alongside the mobile telephony service providers, the other emergency services, British Telecom and the Royal National Institute for the Deaf. The group is currently scoping a trial to take place during 2009 to assess the most appropriate technical solution.

Entry Clearances

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many  (a) highly-skilled migrants and  (b) dependants of highly-skilled migrants have been given leave to enter the UK under (i) the highly-skilled migrants programme and (ii) Tier 1 of the points-based system in each of the last eight quarters for which figures are available.

Phil Woolas: The number of people given leave to enter  (a) under the Highly Skilled Migrant programme  (b) under Tier 1 of the Points Based System, and  (c) as dependents of the above, in each quarter of 2007 and 2008, is shown in the following table.
	
		
			   2007  2008 
			   Q1  Q2  Q3  Q4  Q1  Q2  Q3  Q4 
			 HSMP 2,069 2,411 2,639 2,939 3,616 2,661 470 157 
			 Tier 1 0 0 0 0 0 265 2,364 5,166 
			 Total 2,069 2,411 2,637 2,939 3,616 2,926 2,834 5,323 
			 Dependents 1,773 1,161 1,611 1,741 1,883 1,591 1,652 2,746 
		
	
	The data are unpublished and should be treated as provisional.

Entry Clearances: Agriculture

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many temporary visas were issued for migrant agricultural workers in  (a) 2006-07 and  (b) 2007-08; and what estimate she has made of the number of such migrants who have overstayed their visas.

Phil Woolas: Work cards allocated to seasonal agricultural workers scheme Operators by UKBA were:
	April 2006 to March 2007: 16,404
	April 2007 to March 2008: 16,732
	The figures quoted are not provided under National Statistics and have been derived from local management information and are therefore provisional and subject to change.
	The scheme is restricted to Bulgarian and Romanian nationals only from 1 January 2008. Since 1 January 2007, Bulgarian and Romanian nationals have freedom of movement rights and are not required to leave the UK when their work card expires but must generally obtain further permission if they wish to recommence work.

Entry Clearances: Married People

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what differences exist between her Department's methods of treatment of visa applications from spouses of British passport holders who hold dual nationality with Pakistan and spouses of those who hold only a British passport; and if she will make a statement.

Phil Woolas: holding answer 30 March 2009
	There is no difference in treatment of visa applications from spouses of British passport holders who hold dual nationality with Pakistan and spouses of those who only hold a British passport. The requirements for entry as a spouse are set out in Paragraph 281 of the Immigration Rules.

Entry Clearances: Overseas Students

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 29 April 2009,  Official Report, column 1355W, on immigration controls: overseas students, whether students who pay for their accommodation, including bills, before attending the academic institution will be required to demonstrate they have the required monthly maintenance funds set under the new Tier 4 rules on immigration.

Phil Woolas: holding answer 11 May 2009
	 Where students have paid for accommodation in advance of applying for a visa, this amount will be deducted from the total amount of funds they will need to demonstrate in order to meet the Tier 4 maintenance requirement. For accommodation, this only applies if the student is staying in university or college arranged accommodation. This information is set out in paragraph 96 of the Tier 4 policy guidance, which is available in the House of Commons Library and has also been published on the UK Border Agency website.

Entry Clearances: Overseas Students

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 23 April 2009,  Official Report, column 856W, on immigration controls: educational institutions, what criteria the objective test includes; and how many times an academic institution is required to assess students according to this test during an academic year.

Phil Woolas: holding answer 11 May 2009
	 The points test, integral to all parts of the Points Based System, is the objective test used by the UK Border Agency to assess applications for leave to enter or remain. The specific criteria that must be met are detailed in the Immigration Rules, following changes contained in the Statement of Changes to the Immigration Rules (HC 314) laid before the House on 9 March 2009, and which came into force on 31 March 2009.
	It is the responsibility of the education provider, as licensed sponsor, to assess their students' progress throughout the duration of their studies. The UK Border Agency does not define the method nor the frequency of such assessments throughout an academic year.

Entry Clearances: Zimbabwe

Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will review her policy on determining visa applications from Zimbabwean nationals to take account of changes in the political situation in Zimbabwe.

Phil Woolas: All applications for UK visas are determined in accordance with the UK's Immigration Rules, regardless of an applicant's nationality. When assessing an application, it is normal to take account of an applicant's individual circumstances and, where relevant, the prevailing economic, political or security situation in their country.

Foreign Workers

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answers of 10 February 2009,  Official Report, column 1829W, and 23 April 2009,  Official Report, column 856W, on foreign workers, which pages of the copy of the EC Services Offer placed in the Library contain a definition of a temporary worker under Mode 4 of the General Agreement on Trade in Services in the context of admission to the UK.

Phil Woolas: holding answer 11 May 2009
	The definition of temporary workers under Mode 4 of the General Agreement on Trade in Services can be found between pages 21 and 41 of the revised EC Services offer, placed in the Library.

Foreign Workers: EU Nationals

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many nationals of the A8 states have completed a year on the Worker Registration Scheme and are entitled to full access to benefits.

Phil Woolas: holding answer 16 March 2009
	Data on the number of nationals of the A8 states that have completed 12 months continuous employment in the UK and have consequently ceased to be subject to the registration requirement are not available. The effect of the registration requirement is to restrict access to tax-funded, income related benefits subject to a habitual residence test, including income support and income-based jobseeker's allowance.

Identity Cards

Francis Maude: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what timetable has been set for the distribution of identity card readers to  (a) police stations,  (b) border entry points,  (c) local authorities and  (d) job centres.

Phil Woolas: The UK Border Agency is continuing to increase the number of identity cards issued to foreign nationals granted further permission to stay in the country. In time, card readers will be made available so that the cardholder's biometric and biographical features can be checked against the card, although a timetable for their introduction has not been established. At present, cards may currently be verified using the card verification phone line and as the volume of cards in circulation increases other forms of verification will be introduced.
	Identity cards issued to British citizens under the Identity Cards Act 2006 will be valid for travel in Europe and so will have the capability for facial image biometrics to be read at border control in the same way as biometric passports. Any wider introduction of readers would be linked to the incremental rollout of the National Identity Service as detailed in the National Identity Service Delivery Update 2009 published on 6 May 2009.

Immigration

Anne Main: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent meetings she has had with the chief executive of the UK Border Agency on backlogs in processing immigration casework.

Phil Woolas: The chief executive of the UK Border Agency regularly updates the Home Secretary on the progress made by the Agency on processing immigration case work.

Immigration

John Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when a decision will be made in the case of the hon. Member for Billericay's constituent Mr W. Mlangeni, with reference to the hon. Member's letters of 1 September 2008 and 28 January 2009.

Phil Woolas: The UK Border Agency wrote to the hon. Member on 2 March 2009 with the latest position on Mr. Mlangeni's case.

Immigration Controls

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether there will be a charge for each certificate of acceptance for studies issued under the new Tier 4 immigration rules.

Phil Woolas: holding answer 11 May 2009
	 The Immigration and Nationality (Cost Recovery Fees) Regulations 2009, which came into force on 6 April 2009, make provision for the UK Border Agency to charge £10 for each certificate of sponsorship issued to Tier 4 migrants. The certificate of sponsorship is known as a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies under Tier 4. This fee will apply once the sponsorship management system for Tier 4 sponsors commences its roll-out from autumn 2009.

Internet: Monitoring

James Brokenshire: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what further plans her Department has to monitor internet use and telephone calls.

Vernon Coaker: There are no plans to amend the legal framework for interception in the UK.
	Separately the Government have launched a consultation, "Protecting the Public in a changing Communications Environment". This consultation relates to communications data (information about a communication but not its content) and is seeking the public's view on how to ensure that communications data continue to be retained in and made available lawfully, on a case by case basis, to public authorities.

Offenders: Deportation

David Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  how many people arrested  (a) in England and Wales and  (b) in each police force area in England and Wales had been the subject of a deportation order in each of the last five years;
	(2)  how many people subject to a deportation order have been arrested in  (a) England and Wales and  (b) each police force in England and Wales in each of the last five years.

Phil Woolas: The information requested can be obtained only through the detailed examination of individual case files and cross-referencing that information with records held by the police, which would incur a disproportionate cost. The UK Border Agency is advised of when a foreign national has been convicted of a crime within the UK in order to take appropriate action, including deportation action. The UK Border Agency will consider deportation action against any foreign national who has been convicted of a crime committed in the UK and meets the relevant criteria.
	Those who have a deportation order signed against them are removed from the UK and prevented from re-entering as long as the order is in force. In 2008 the Agency exceeded its Government target by deporting or removing a record 5,395 foreign national criminals. The chief executive of the UK Border Agency has regularly written to the Home Affairs Select Committee in order to provide all of the most robust and accurate information on the deportation of foreign national criminals and will continue to do so as required. Copies of her letters are available in the Library of the House.

Police: Complaints

Jeff Ennis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many complaints have been made against the South Yorkshire police force in each of the last five years.

Vernon Coaker: The Home Office does not hold the information requested. This is a matter primarily for the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) in fulfilling its statutory functions under the Police Reform Act 2002. The IPCC will respond to the hon. Member direct.

Police: Essex

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  how many officers of each rank in Essex Police have voluntarily ceased employment, excluding redundancy, since March 2008;
	(2)  how many officials of each grade have voluntarily ceased employment, other than through redundancy, in Essex Police Authority since June 2007.

Vernon Coaker: Data for the financial year 2008-09 are unavailable until headline figures are published in July.
	The available data for the financial year 2007-08 are given in the table.
	
		
			  Voluntary resignations and transfers (FTE) for Essex  p olice 2007-08 
			   Transfers  Voluntary resignations( 1) 
			 ACPO 0 0 
			 Chief Superintendent 1 0 
			 Superintendent 1 0 
			 Chief Inspector 0 0 
			 Inspector 0 2 
			 Sergeant 18 10 
			 Constable 76 61 
			 CSO 0 41 
			 Special Constable 1 63 
			 Police Staff 0 156 
			 Traffic Warden 0 0 
			 Designated officers (s38) 0 5 
			 (1) Including probationers  Note: Full time equivalent figures provided that have been rounded to the nearest whole number. Because of rounding, there may be an apparent discrepancy between totals and the sums of the constituent items.  Source: Data validated with Essex Police Force

Prisoners: Repatriation

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  how many non-UK nationals in UK prisons she expects to be deported in the next 12 months;
	(2)  how many non-UK nationals in UK prisons were deported in  (a) 2006-07 and  (b) 2007-08.

Phil Woolas: The chief executive of the UK Border Agency has written to the Home Affairs Select Committee on a regular basis in order to provide all of the most robust and accurate in formation on the subject of foreign national prisoners and deportation. She advised the Committee that in 2007 the agency deported or removed a record 4,200 foreign national prisoners, exceeding the Prime Minister's target. In 2008 the UK Border Agency established a new record by deporting or removing 5,395 foreign national prisoners, which was reported in the quarterly asylum and immigration statistics.
	Copies of her letters are available in the Library of the House. She will continue to update the Committee as required. In its business plan for 2009-10 the UK Border Agency has confirmed that it will continue to deport or remove record numbers of foreign national prisoners.

Repatriation: Finance

Dominic Grieve: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  what expenditure her Department has incurred on the provision of financial incentives to foreign national prisoners to serve the remainder of their sentence in their country of origin  (a) since the inception of the scheme and  (b) in 2008-09;
	(2)  how much on average foreign national prisoners received in reintegration support in 2008;
	(3)  what expenditure her Department has incurred on reintegration support in each of the last three years;
	(4)  how many prisoners at each prison have been offered financial incentives to serve the remainder of their sentence in their country of origin since the inception of that incentive scheme;
	(5)  how many prisoners have received reintegration support more than once in the last five years;
	(6)  how many foreign national prisoners have been repatriated to their country of origin under the reintegration scheme since the scheme's inception.

Phil Woolas: The facilitated returns scheme was launched in October 2006 as an incentive to persuade foreign prisoners to return voluntarily to their own country. The scheme offers a package of reintegration assistance to the individual, however no financial incentives are offered. The only cash the individual receives is the standard £46 discharge grant provided to all prisoners, including British nationals. The level of assistance offered is variable and is dependant upon the individual circumstances of each case. Around half of those who are removed under the provisions of the scheme receive reintegration assistance. There has been only one instance where an individual who has been transferred to a prison within the country of origin has been provided reintegration assistance.
	Details of the scheme are available in all UK prisons where foreign national prisoners are serving their sentence. Although they are also verbally advised of the scheme, it is not possible to provide data on the numbers of individuals who have been offered the scheme. It remains open to them to make such an application. Once removed from the UK under the scheme's provisions, they are excluded from re-entering the UK. As such it is only possible to benefit from the scheme once.
	The chief executive of the UK Border Agency has written to the Home Affairs Select Committee on a regular basis in order to provide all of the most robust and accurate information on foreign national prisoners and deportation, including the successes seen through the use of the facilitated returns scheme.
	In her letter of 23 July 2008 she advised that the scheme, which has generated significant savings and accounted for around 25 per cent. of all foreign prisoner removals in 2007, has resulted in nearly 1,800 foreign prisoners being removed from the UK. In the first year of the scheme (October 2006 to October 2007) the agency spent around £350,000, inclusive of administrative costs. For the same period around 880 removals were made under the scheme which generated considerable savings in detention costs alone.
	Copies of her letters are available in the Library of the House. The chief executive will continue to write to the Committee with further updates on the scheme and other data on the deportation of foreign national prisoners.

Serious and Organised Crime Agency: Disciplinary Proceedings

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many disciplinary offences by Serious and Organised Crime Agency staff have been recorded in each month since March 2006.

Jacqui Smith: The Serious Organised Crime Agency was formed in April 2006. The number of cases since April 2006 in which a disciplinary offence was recorded in a SOCA officer's personnel file are in the following table.
	
		
			   Number 
			  2006  
			 May 2 
			 June 4 
			 August 1 
			 September 1 
			 November 2 
			   
			  2007  
			 January 2 
			 February 1 
			 March 3 
			 April 1 
			 May 1 
			 July 2 
			 August 1 
			 September 2 
			 October 2 
			 November 5 
			 December 3 
			   
			  2008  
			 January 2 
			 February 1 
			 May 1 
			 June 1 
			 September 1 
			  Note: Where a month is not listed, no disciplinary findings were made during that month.

Terrorism

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what  (a) statutory instruments,  (b) departmental circulars,  (c) consultation documents and  (d) other documents she (i) has issued since February 2008 and (ii) plans to issue in the next two years consequent on the provisions of counter-terrorism legislation passed since 1984; and if she will make a statement.

Vernon Coaker: Since February 2008 the following statutory instruments have been made by the Home Office in relation to the Terrorism Act 2000, the Anti-Terrorism, Crime and Security Act 2001, the Prevention of Terrorism Act 2005, the Terrorism Act 2006 and the Counter-Terrorism Act 2008:
	The Terrorism Act 2000 (Proscribed Organisations) (Amendment) Order 2008, made on 23 June 2008.
	The Terrorism Act 2000 (Proscribed Organisations) (Amendment) (No. 2) Order 2008, made on 17 July 2008.
	The Terrorism Act 2000 (Proscribed Organisations) (Name Change) Order 2009, made 5 March 2009.
	The Terrorism Act 2006 (Pre-charge Detention) (Renewal) Order 2008 made on 24 July 2008.
	The Counter-Terrorism Act 2008 (Commencement No. 1) Order 2008, made 23 December 2008.
	The Counter-Terrorism Act 2008 (Commencement No. 2) Order 2009, made 19 January 2009.
	The Prevention of Terrorism Act 2005 (Continuance in force of sections 1 to 9) Order 2008, made 3 March 2008.
	The Prevention of Terrorism Act 2005 (Continuance in force of sections 1 to 9) Order 2009, made 5 March 2009.
	The Terrorism Act 2000 (Code of Practice for Examining Officers) (Revision) Order 2009, made 26 February 2009.
	The Home Office plans for future statutory instruments are published quarterly at:
	http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/documents/secondary-legislation-list
	The only departmental circular published by the Home Office since February 2008 in relation to the above legislation was Home Office Circular 027/2008 which was issued on 2 December 2008 and deals with the authorisation process under the stop and search powers at section 44 of the Terrorism Act 2000. It is intended that there will be Home Office circulars issued in relation to the Counter-Terrorism Act 2008 during the course of 2009.
	A formal 12 week consultation was carried out in the summer of 2007 on schedule 7 to the Terrorism Act 2000 (Code of Practice for Examining Officers). The consultation was published on the Home Office website on 4 June 2007. The Home Office will consult on changes to the various police and criminal evidence codes arising from the provisions in the Counter-Terrorism Act 2008 in due course. It is also intended that there will be a consultation on amending the list of pathogens and toxins contained in schedule 5 of the Anti-Terrorism, Crime and Security Act 2001 in the next two years.
	Information relating to 'other documents' can be provided only at disproportionate cost.

UK Border Agency

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  whether during the recruitment process individuals applying for positions at the UK Border Agency are asked whether they are members of a political party;
	(2)  whether individuals applying for positions at the UK Border Agency are asked about membership of a political party during the recruitment process.

Phil Woolas: No. Civil servants are required to act impartially and follow the Civil Service Code.

Work Permits

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many work permits the UK Border Agency has issued to software developers from each country of origin in the last six months.

Phil Woolas: The information requested is not centrally recorded.

WORK AND PENSIONS

Carers

Paul Rowen: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what recent discussions he has had with ministerial colleagues on implementation of the National Carers Strategy 2008; and if he will make a statement.

Jonathan R Shaw: To support the implementation of National Carers Strategy objectives, Ministers from all the signatory Departments have maintained close working relationships. To support this an inter-ministerial meeting is planned for early June.

Children: Maintenance

Andrew Selous: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions in what percentage of cases in which 40 per cent. of a parent's income had been assessed as the liability for child maintenance arrears the Child Support Agency has identified  (a) delays and  (b) other instances of maladministration attributable to it in the last year for which figures are available.

Kitty Ussher: I have consulted with the Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission who are now responsible for the Child Support Agency. They have confirmed that the information requested is not available.

Children: Maintenance

John Thurso: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what factors underlie the time taken to release to Mona McNamara by the Child Support Agency monies collected from the non-resident parent in December 2008 and January, February, March and April 2009.

Kitty Ussher: holding answer 13 May 2009
	The Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission is responsible for the child maintenance system. I have therefore asked the Child Maintenance Commissioner to write to the hon. Member with the information requested.

Council Tax Benefits

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the number of council tax benefit claimants of working age who have capital assets of between £6,000 and £16,000; and if he will make a statement.

Kitty Ussher: As at May 2004, the most recent available information, there were 9,000 council tax benefit recipients under 60 years of age with capital assets between £6,000 and £16,000 in Great Britain.
	 Notes:
	1. The figures are based on a 1 per cent. sample and are therefore subject to a degree of sampling variation.
	2. The data refer to benefit units, which may be a single person or a couple.
	3. The figures have been rounded to the nearest thousand.
	4. Council tax benefit figures exclude any single adult rebate cases.
	5. From February 2007, DWP has been collecting more detailed HB/CTB data electronically from local authorities. Over time this will improve the accuracy, timeliness and level of detail available in the published statistics. However, until the new data have been fully quality assured to National Statistics standards, the most recent detailed statistics available are for May 2004.
	 Source:
	Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit Management Information System Annual 1 per cent. sample taken in May 2004.

Departmental Correspondence

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what procedure his Department follows for dealing with complaints received  (a) by e-mail,  (b) by post,  (c) by telephone and  (d) via his Department's website.

Jonathan R Shaw: The Department for Work and Pensions and its agencies deal with all complaints on an equal basis, however they are made. How they are dealt with will depend on whether the complaint is about a decision on entitlement, for which there is generally a right of appeal, or about the manner in which the service is delivered.
	For example, customers who are dissatisfied with any statutory decision made by Jobcentre Plus can appeal. In the first instance, the decision is reviewed by another decision-maker. If the decision remains unchanged after the review, Jobcentre Plus sends the case to the Tribunals Service as part of the appeal process. The Tribunals Service are responsible for administering the appeals process and contact customers about the hearing, which may be held in person or by correspondence.
	Jobcentre Plus treats decisions complained about in correspondence as an appeal and automatically reconsiders the decision. Where appropriate, Jobcentre Plus contacts the customer for further information to support the appeal process.
	Most complaints about the service provided can be resolved straightaway by the person dealing with the customer and each of the Department's agencies seeks to achieve this. Each has a clear and simple process for dealing with customer complaints and details of this are contained in their leaflets.
	Where failings are identified we provide appropriate redress, which might typically include an apology, correction of any error and, where appropriate, financial redress.
	Where a customer is not satisfied with the response given to their complaint they can ask for a review of the complaint and any redress given. This will first be by a senior manager and, if the customer remains dissatisfied, by the chief executive of the agency concerned.
	If the customer remains dissatisfied, he or she can ask the independent case examiner (ICE) to review matters. A request for ICE to investigate should be made within six months of the chief executive's response.
	The ICE will consider complaints about service delivery, though not matters of law or Government policy. He will review the papers and attempt to mediate. If this is not possible he will report his findings and inform the customer of their right to ask a MP to refer the matter to the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman.

Departmental Internet

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much his Department has spent on maintaining its website in the last 12 months.

Jonathan R Shaw: Maintenance of DWP websites including
	www.dwp.gov.uk
	is mostly carried out by the Department's own in-house digital media team. It is not possible for us to quantify internal staff costs because, in most cases, staff are engaged in more than one role. In addition, we are unable to establish accurately our infrastructure costs because they form part of a wider departmental IT contract.
	DWP have worked with the Central Office of Information to develop a standardised method for quantifying website costs across Government. This will be implemented from March 2009.

Departmental Reviews

Shailesh Vara: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many  (a) review and  (b) taskforce projects his Department has commissioned in each of the last five years; what the purpose of each such project is; when each such project (i) began and (ii) was completed; what the cost of each such project was; and if he will make a statement.

Jonathan R Shaw: The information is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Employment Schemes

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  what estimate he has made of the number of people likely to take up the additional support provided through  (a) incentives to employees to recruit and train unemployed people,  (b) training places,  (c) work-focused volunteering and  (d) help to establish a business under the six month offer to the unemployed;
	(2)  what level of take up of the six month offer he anticipates in respect of  (a) employment subsidy vouchers,  (b) train to gain funding,  (c) training places,  (d) volunteering and  (e) help for the self-employed under the six month offer.

Tony McNulty: We have anticipated and funded the six month offer for the provision of 500,000 opportunities for jobseekers who have been claiming jobseeker's allowance for 26 weeks or more for two years from April 2009 to March 2011.
	The offers are voluntary and are therefore demand led. The overall package is designed to be flexible and respond to customer needs. It is also possible that for any individual customer, a mix of offers may be appropriate.
	The Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills expects to provide 75,000 new work focused training opportunities over two years. The volunteering offer expects to provide 40,000 opportunities over this same period.

Incapacity Benefit

Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many incapacity benefit claimants attended an appointment for a personal capability assessment in each of the last three years; and what percentage this figure represents of those incapacity benefit claimants asked to attend for such an assessment in each such year.

Jonathan R Shaw: holding answer 14 May 2009
	 The available information is in the table.
	
		
			  Number and percentage of incapacity benefit claimants that attended an appointment for a personal capability assessment in each of the last three years 
			  April to March each year  Number  Percentage 
			 2006-07 507,734 77.4 
			 2007-08 535,119 74.4 
			 2008-09 513,511 72 
			  Source: Medical Services

Jobseeker's Allowance

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the number of group review interviews for existing Jobseeker's Allowance claimants conducted in place of one-to-one review interviews in each month since January 2008.

Tony McNulty: The information requested is not available.

National Insurance Contributions

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will estimate the change in revenue for the Exchequer if employee and employer national insurance contributions were charged on aggregate income from all employments; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Timms: I have been asked to reply.
	Aggregating the earnings of people doing more than one job with separate employers would be administratively complex for employers. Information on the number of people with more than one employee job who would pay more national insurance contributions (NICs), and the average increase they would pay, under a cumulative annual basis of assessment for employee's NICs is shown in "Income tax and national insurance alignment: an evidence-based assessment" published in October 2007. It is available at:
	http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/pbr_csr07_income.htm
	Estimates for employers NICs are not available.

National Insurance Contributions

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the answer of 27 April 2009,  Official Report, column 1057W, on national insurance contributions, if he will estimate how many  (a) men and  (b) women over state pension age would be eligible to purchase up to six additional years of national insurance contributions if eligibility applied (i) only to those with 20 or more qualifying years, (ii) only to those with 15 or more qualifying years and (iii) only to those with 10 or more qualifying years.

Rosie Winterton: holding answer 30 April 2009
	 The information requested could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

New Deal Schemes

Paul Rowen: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  how many individuals in each region have been on the new deal for young people more than once since its inception;
	(2)  how many individuals in each region have been on the new deal 25 plus more than once since its inception;
	(3)  how many individuals in each region have been on the new deal for lone parents more than once since its inception;
	(4)  how many 18 to 24 year olds in each region have been on the new deal for lone parents more than once since its inception.

Tony McNulty: New Deal repeaters are more likely to enter employment from their second spell on the programme than their first. Each period on New Deal moves participants closer to the labour market. The information is in the following table.
	
		
			  Number of individuals in each region who have been on New Deal for Young People(NDYP), New Deal 25+ (ND25+) and New Deal for Lone Parents (NDLP) more than once since each programme's inception (November 2008) 
			   NDYP  ND25+  NDLP (all)  NDLP (aged 18-24) 
			 Scotland 45,400 26,610 36,940 7,670 
			 North East 31,120 18,790 20,990 4,760 
			 North West 55,480 28,250 46,710 9,740 
			 Yorkshire and Humber 45,160 27,470 32,590 6,860 
			 Wales 22,470 10,360 22,780 4,670 
			 West Midlands 45,790 23,580 25,530 4,740 
			 East Midlands 24,210 14,850 15,870 2,780 
			 East of England 21,530 15,140 20,170 2,900 
			 South East 23,650 16,950 26,940 3,860 
			 London 65,170 47,680 45,700 6,090 
			 South West 19,200 11,520 26,790 4,230 
			  Note: Age group on entry into New Deal based on age at the time of initial interview  Source: Department for Work and Pensions, Information Directorate definitions and conventions: figures are rounded to the nearest 10

Parliamentary Questions: Government Responses

Andrew Selous: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when he plans to answer question 265969 on 0845 telephone numbers, tabled by the hon. Member for South West Bedfordshire on 19 March 2009.

Jonathan R Shaw: holding answer 11 May 2009
	I replied to the hon. Member's question on 11 May 2009,  Official Report, column 568W.

Pension Credit

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people of working age have been claiming pension credit  (a) in each month of the last two years and  (b) in each year since pension credit was introduced.

Rosie Winterton: The Government are committed to tackling age discrimination and working through the Age Positive Initiative to continue to encourage employers to adopt flexible approaches to work and employment that will allow more choices and opportunity for older people to remain in, or re-enter the labour market.
	From April 2009, financial incentives of up to £2,500 will be available to employers that recruit and train people who have been unemployed for six months or longer.
	The qualifying age for pension credit is linked to the state pension age for women, which means that men aged 60 to 64 can claim pension credit without having reached their state pension age. The state pension age for women, and therefore the qualifying age for pension credit, is due to increase gradually from 60 to 65 between 2010 and 2020. The information requested is in the tables. The new claims data in tables 1 and 2 do not capture those claims where the partner is below state pension age, they count only those claims where the claimant is below state pension age.
	
		
			  Table 1: Number of new pension credit claims from men aged 60 to 64 in each month September 2006 to August 2008 
			   Number of claims 
			  2006  
			 September 5,210 
			 October 5,290 
			 November 5,360 
			 December 4,410 
			   
			  2007  
			 January 5,610 
			 February 4,910 
			 March 5,460 
			 April 5,200 
			 May 5,440 
			 June 5,450 
			 July 5,500 
			 August 5,420 
			 September 4,920 
			 October 5,460 
			 November 5,240 
			 December 3,890 
			   
			  2008  
			 January 5,590 
			 February 5,170 
			 March 4,960 
			 April 5,480 
			 May 5,050 
			 June 5,320 
			 July 6,060 
			 August 5,390 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 2: Number of new pension credit claims from men aged 60 to 64 each year 2003 - 08 
			   Number of claims 
			 2003 198,450 
			 2004 66,410 
			 2005 56,550 
			 2006 60,030 
			 2007 62,500 
			 2008 (January to August) 43,020 
			  Notes: 1. The on flow data used represent the total number of spells on this benefit that commenced within the month/year listed. They do not include flows where people have moved out of one area into another while remaining on the benefit. 2. Numbers have been rounded to the nearest 10. 3. Pension credit was introduced on 6 October 2003. 4. Totals may not sum due to rounding.  Source: DWP Information Directorate Work and Pensions Longitudinal Study

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Afghanistan: Females

Diane Abbott: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what progress his Department has made in implementing the provisions of UN Security Council Resolution 1325 in UK and international development programmes in Afghanistan in the last 12 months.

Michael Foster: The Department for International Development (DFID) has made the following provisions to implement the UN Security Council Resolution 1325 in its development programmes in Afghanistan:
	Drawing on the findings of the research DFID commissioned at the end of last year, titled 'Understanding Afghanistan', we have developed a detailed Gender Equality Action plan for Afghanistan. This plan supports the 10-year National Action Plan for Women in Afghanistan (NAPWA) by ensuring gender equality is an integral part of our programme.
	The UK Government are working closely with the Afghan Government to ensure that gender equality is integrated into their own policies to ensure long-term, sustainable improvements. We have provided an adviser to the Afghanistan Government to ensure the Afghanistan National Development Strategy (ANDS), which lays out its development plan over the next five years, has integrated cross-cutting issues such as gender equality into sector plans. DFID also provides funding to Womankind and UNIFEM who are both working to support women's rights in Afghanistan.
	In addition, DFID has committed almost £11 million (2008-09) to support elections in Afghanistan. At present women hold 68 out of 249 seats in the Lower House and 23 out of 102 seats in the Upper House. Our funding will raise awareness and understanding of the electoral process and empower women's political participation.

Afghanistan: Females

Diane Abbott: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps his Department has taken to take account of the needs of women and girls in its work on reconstruction and assistance to Afghanistan since its response to the International Development Select Committee's Fourth Report of Session 2007-08 on Reconstructing Afghanistan.

Michael Foster: The Department for International Development (DFID) has drawn on the findings of the research commissioned last year, titled 'Understanding Afghanistan', to develop a detailed Gender Equality Action Plan for Afghanistan. This plan supports the 10-year National Action Plan for Women in Afghanistan (NAPWA) by ensuring gender equality is an integral part of our programme.
	The UK Government are working closely with the Afghan Government to ensure that gender equality is integrated into its own policies. We have provided an adviser to the Afghan Government to ensure the Afghanistan National Development Strategy (ANDS) has integrated cross-cutting issues such as gender equality into sector plans. We invested £60 million (2008-09) through the Government of Afghanistan's Reconstruction Trust Fund (ARTF): this helps pay the salaries of over 165,000 teachers. 28 per cent. of teachers are now women and this has helped to ensure the number of girls enrolled in school continues to grow. 35 per cent. of all enrolled students are now girls, up from virtually none under the Taliban.
	In addition, the Department for International Development (DFID) is providing funding to Womankind and UNIFEM and £40 million of support over five years to the Micro-Finance Investment Support Facility in Afghanistan, which provides small loans to poor individuals to invest in businesses. Nearly 65 per cent. of those receiving loans are women.

Afghanistan: Females

Diane Abbott: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps his Department is taking to ensure that girls from communities in Afghanistan where they are prevented from attending school receive adequate nutrition.

Michael Foster: Food insecurity remains the most pressing humanitarian concern for Afghanistan. Over the last year chronic food insecurity has been driven by high food prices and drought. The UN World Food Programme's (WFP) emergency response—to which the Department for International Development (DFID) contributed £17 million from January 2008—reached 8.7 million of Afghanistan's most vulnerable. This programme distributes food to families in the most food vulnerable parts of Afghanistan based on a WFP and Government of Afghanistan needs assessment, regardless of whether girls are attending school.

Afghanistan: Overseas Investment

John Battle: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what his most recent assessment is of the work of the Afghanistan Investment Climate Facility.

Douglas Alexander: The Afghanistan Investment Climate Facility (AICF) has made good progress since its launch in June 2008 having already approved four proposals for funding, including a project with the Afghanistan National Standards Authority to help Afghan producers to obtain higher prices for their goods. A further five proposals are under development. The Department for International Development (DFID) will carry out a full review of the programme in due course.

Afghanistan: Overseas Investment

John Battle: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development whether  (a) CDC and  (b) the Business Linkages Challenge Fund operate in Afghanistan.

Douglas Alexander: CDC Group plc has not invested in any funds at present which invest in Afghanistan.
	The Business Linkages Challenge Fund (BLCF) is now closed. While operational, the BLCF supported one project in Afghanistan. Information about this project is available on the BLCF website at:
	http://www.businesslinkageschallengefund.org/ManufacturingAfghanistan.aspx

Departmental Billing

John Mason: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what percentage of invoices from suppliers his Department paid within 10 days of receipt in March 2009.

Michael Foster: The Department for International Development paid 60 per cent. of payments to suppliers in March within 10 days of receipt.

Departmental ICT

John Thurso: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps he has taken to reduce the level of carbon dioxide emissions arising from the operation of ICT systems in his Department under the Greening Government ICT Strategy.

Michael Foster: The Department for International Development (DFID), in line with all other Chief Information Officers (CIOs) on the Cabinet Office CIO Council, has produced a "CIO Green ICT Roadmap" which we will be following to deliver against the 18 target improvement areas outlined in the Greening Government IT Strategy.
	I also refer the hon. Member to the answer provided to the hon. Member for Cardiff, Central (Jenny Willott) on 27 April 2009,  Official Report, column 1014W.

Sudan: Politics and Government

Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what his most recent assessment is of the humanitarian situation in South Kordofan and Abyei in Sudan.

Ivan Lewis: The UK Government continue to monitor the humanitarian situation in Abyei and Southern Kordofan closely. The population of Abyei (and surrounding areas) is fewer than 50,000, most living in displaced camps in Agok, with 650 in Southern Kordofan. United Nations (UN) sources indicate that the humanitarian system is stable, although the situation remains tense, with the coming rains posing an increased risk of disease and logistical challenges in the delivery of assistance. We are also expecting the results of a recent joint UN/Government assessment of the NGO expulsions impact on the transitional areas, which should provide a more comprehensive picture of any gaps in the humanitarian response and impact on future recovery programmes.
	The UK Government provide humanitarian and early recovery support primarily through the UN-managed Common Humanitarian Fund (CHF), which contributed $10.1 million for Southern Kordofan, and an additional $3.3 million for Abyei in 2008. Our 2008 share of the CHF was around 50 per cent. at £40 million. For 2009, we have provided a further £36 million. In addition, the UK Government are supporting recovery in the police (Abyei) and education sectors (up to £5.7 million), and through the Multi-Donor Trust Fund (MDTF) which has provided $28.67 million in funding for Southern Kordofan.

Uzbekistan: Overseas Aid

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what aid the Government gave to Uzbekistan in the last 12 months; and whether any funding from his Department is targeted on reducing that country's reliance on the employment of children in the cotton industry.

Michael Foster: The UK Government closed their bilateral aid programme to Uzbekistan in March 2006. However, the Department for International Development (DFID) funds a Central Asia Regional HIV/AIDS Programme, which operates in Uzbekistan, totalling £7.4 million over four years. DFID has also committed £1 million to a World Bank led Central Asia HIV Control Project and continues to monitor and support the work of multilateral institutions in Uzbekistan. No UK Government funding goes through the Government of Uzbekistan.

Zimbabwe: Economic Situation

Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent discussions he has had with officials from the African Development Bank on a financial rescue package for Zimbabwe; and if he will make a statement.

Ivan Lewis: Ministers from the Department for International Development (DFID) have met with Donald Kaberuka, President of the African Development Bank (AfDB), on a number of occasions over recent months. Most recently the Secretary of State met him on 2 April 2009 at the G20 summit in London. DFID staff have also held regular meetings at senior level with African Development Bank officials, including most recently at the AfDB annual meetings in Senegal on May 13-14.
	In all of these meetings we have emphasised the importance of a strong AfDB role and country presence to provide early technical support to key institutions in the new Inclusive Government, to help co-ordinate donor engagement and, generally, to help build and maintain momentum for much needed reform efforts in Zimbabwe. However, further major support from the AfDB, from other institutions such as the IMF and World Bank and from the wider donor community will only be made available when we begin to see evidence of a commitment to political and economic reform. Establishing a track record on strong and competent fiscal management and tackling debt arrears will be key issues for the Inclusive Government in building confidence with the international community to support recovery.

JUSTICE

Ashwell Prison

Dominic Grieve: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many prisoners have been transferred out of HM Prison Ashwell since 12 April 2009.

Jack Straw: Between 12 April 2009 and 13 May 2009, 20 prisoners have been transferred out of HMP Ashwell.

Ashwell Prison

Dominic Grieve: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what the prison population at HM Prison Ashwell was in each of the last six months.

Jack Straw: The following table gives the numbers of prisoners held in HMP Ashwell on the last day of each month between October 2008 to March 2008 (latest available).
	
		
			  Prison population within HMP Ashwell, October 2008 to March 2009 
			   Number 
			 October 2008 610 
			 November 2008 615 
			 December 2008 609 
			 January 2009 617 
			 February 2009 610 
			 March 2009 618 
		
	
	This information is available from the following website, which is updated monthly:
	http://www.justice.gov.uk/publications/populationincustody.htm
	These figures have been drawn from administrative IT systems, which, as with any large scale recording system, are subject to possible errors with data entry and processing.

Council Tax: Non-payment

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many successful prosecutions there were in  (a) Essex and  (b) Castle Point for non-payment of council tax in each of the last five years.

Maria Eagle: Persons proceeded against at magistrates courts and found guilty at all courts for offences under regulation 56 of the Council Tax (Administration and Enforcement) Regulations 1992 form part of a miscellaneous group on the Ministry of Justice Court proceedings database which cannot be separately identified.

Debt Collection

Karen Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  how many court orders were obtained by each local authority in England in 2007-08; and how many of these related to  (a) council tax,  (b) housing benefit and  (c) parking penalties;
	(2)  how many warrants to authorise bailiff action were issued at the request of each local authority in England in 2007-08;
	(3)  what the  (a) actual and  (b) percentage change in the number of (i) court orders and (ii) warrants to authorise bailiff action secured by each local authority (A) relating to council tax, (B) relating to housing benefit, (C) relating to parking penalties and (D) overall in England was between (1) 1997-98 and 2002-03 and (2) 1997-98 and 2007-08;
	(4)  how many bailiff warrants were issued in each region in respect of  (a) council tax,  (b) magistrates court fines,  (c) consumer credit debts,  (d) parking penalties and congestion charges,  (e) child support and maintenance,  (f) television licences and  (g) other matters in (i) 1997-98, (ii) 2002-03 and (iii) 2007-08;
	(5)  how many mortgage and landlord repossession orders were granted by each county court in  (a) 1990,  (b) 2000 and  (c) 2007-08.

Bridget Prentice: Statistics on mortgage repossession orders granted by each county court from 1987 to 2008 and on landlord repossession orders granted by each county court from 1999 to 2008 are available via the Ministry of Justice website at:
	http://www.justice.gov.uk/docs/stats-landlord-mortgage-historic-20-02-09.xls
	However, landlord repossession order data are not held prior to 1999.
	These figures do not indicate how many homes have actually been repossessed. Repossessions can occur without a court order being made while not all court orders result in repossession.
	The Ministry of Justice does not hold statistical counts of:
	court orders obtained by local authorities;
	warrants to authorise bailiff action issued at the request of local authorities;
	warrants to authorise bailiff action issued in respect of (a) council tax, (b) magistrates court fines, (c) consumer credit debts, (d) parking penalties and congestion charges, (e) child support and maintenance, (f) television licences and (g) other matters.
	The administrative computer systems used in the county courts do not enable easy identification of whether cases are brought specifically by local authorities, of the specific case type listed. All relevant cases are logged on the system and the claimant name is recorded. However, the statistics requested could only be derived following extensive manual searching of individual case records, which would incur disproportionate cost.
	In addition, the numbers of orders made in magistrates courts are not held centrally.

Legal Aid

Shailesh Vara: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how much was spent on legal aid in  (a) North West Cambridgeshire,  (b) Cambridgeshire,  (c) the East of England and  (d) England and Wales in each of the last 10 years.

David Hanson: The Legal Services Commission (LSC) does not record legal aid expenditure in such as way as to readily ascribe it to  (a) North West Cambridgeshire or  (b) Cambridgeshire. Obtaining this information would require a manual extraction of data, which would incur disproportionate cost.
	Legal aid expenditure, in cash terms, for each of the past 10 years in  (d) England and Wales is given in the following table. Expenditure for  (c) the East of England region is available only from 2001-02 as obtaining this information for earlier years would require a manual extraction of data, which would incur disproportionate cost. Expenditure has been attributed on the basis of the location of the court in which proceedings were conducted for some legal aid schemes and the location of the service provider for others. Small elements of expenditure, for example, CDS Direct, have been excluded as they cannot easily be allocated to specific regions.
	
		
			  £ million 
			   East of England  England and Wales 
			 1998-99 n/a 1,628 
			 1999-2000 n/a 1,550 
			 2000-01 n/a 1,664 
			 2001-02 113 1,717 
			 2002-03 123 1,909 
			 2003-04 132 2,077 
			 2004-05 142 2,038 
			 2005-06 142 2,028 
			 2006-07 141 1,980 
			 2007-08 133 2,023 
			 n/a = Not available.

Lindholme Prison

Dominic Grieve: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many prisoners he expects to be released early from HM Prison Lindholme in the next six months.

Jack Straw: The number discharged from prison are dependent on a variety of factors, including the profile of the prison population in each establishment, the specifics of legislation or policies pertaining at the time, those received into the prison, movements between prisons and in the case of Lindholme the practicalities of removing foreign national prisoners to their home countries. No assessment has therefore been made on the number of releases, early or otherwise, from any specific prison.
	Estimates of the prison population as a whole are generally published annually. This gives the projected monthly prison population in England and Wales for the next seven years. Sub-population (such as gender) estimates are presented alongside the effects of legislation, sentencing activity, and other factors relevant to the prison population. The relevant page on the Ministry of Justice website is:
	http://www.justice.gov.uk/publications/prisonpopulation.htm

Members: Correspondence

Jeremy Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice when the Minister of State, Ministry of Justice, the right hon. Member for Delyn (Mr. Hanson) plans to reply to the letter from the hon. Member for Rugby and Kenilworth of 18 March 2009, on Clifton Court Nursing Home.

David Hanson: I am sorry for the delay. A reply has been sent and the hon. Member should receive it shortly.

Prisoners' Discharge Grants

Dominic Grieve: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how much on average prisoners received in a discharge grant in 2008.

Jack Straw: Prison Service Order (PSO) 6400 (Discharge) states that all eligible prisoners aged 18 or over sentenced to a custodial sentence of more than 14 days must be given a discharge grant of £46 on release. Prisoners released from custody will not receive any benefits immediately and the grant is intended to meet their immediate basic needs.
	Prisoners in the following categories are not eligible for a discharge grant:
	Sentenced prisoners who are known to have in excess of £8,000 in savings (and would therefore be ineligible for income support under the relevant regulations);
	Unconvicted prisoners;
	Those serving a custodial sentence of 14 days or less;
	Those recalled from licence to prison for a period of 14 days or less;
	Those awaiting deportation or removal from the United Kingdom;
	Those travelling to an address outside the United Kingdom. For the purpose of paying the discharge grant, the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man and the Republic of Ireland are included within the United Kingdom;
	Those being discharged to a hospital under a Mental Health Act Section Order;
	Fine defaulters and those held on further remand warrants.

Prisons: Barking and Dagenham

Jon Cruddas: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  what area of land is required to build the proposed prison on the Beam Park West site;
	(2)  what proportion of the London Development Agency's Beam Park West site is required to be secured in order to build the prison he proposes.

Jack Straw: Our intention is to purchase the entire Beam Park West site. A minimum of 35 acres is required for a 1,500 place prison.

Prisons: Location

Jon Cruddas: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice pursuant to the written ministerial statement of 27 April 2009,  Official Report, columns 569-71, on prisons and probation, what factors he took into account in deciding on sites for the new prisons.

Jack Straw: Criteria including size, location, shape and topography of sites as well as public and private transport and planning polices were taken into account during the site search.

Young Offenders

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many inmates of each age group there were in each young offender institution in each year since 1997.

David Hanson: Available information provided in the following table shows the number of 15-17 year olds and young adults under sentence in prison establishments in England and Wales as at the end of June 2002 to June 2007 (latest available).
	Young adults are those aged 18-20 and those 21-year-olds who were aged 20 or under at conviction who have not been reclassified as part of the adult population.
	It is not possible to provide information from 1997 without incurring disproportionate cost.
	These figures have been drawn from administrative IT systems, which, as with any large scale recording system, are subject to possible errors with data entry and processing.
	
		
			  Population in prison establishments( 1, 2)  under sentence, by age, June 2002  to  June 2007 
			   2002  2003  2004  2005  2006  2007 
			   15-17  18-20  15-17  18-20  15-17  18-20  15-17  18-20  15-17  18-20  15-17  18-20 
			 Altcourse 1 106 0 84 0 65 0 82 0 134 0 150 
			 Ashfield 249 64 171 133 254 56 265 44 294 63 319 66 
			 Aylesbury 0 328 0 292 0 318 0 363 1 346 1 347 
			 Belmarsh 0 41 0 22 0 11 0 16 0 25 0 15 
			 Blakenhurst 0 28 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Brinsford 173 280 171 259 177 260 182 256 199 263 145 314 
			 Bristol 0 20 0 0 0 27 0 30 0 30 0 38 
			 Brockhill 13 38 9 35 1 16 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Bronzefield 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 12 0 30 0 11 
			 Bullingdon 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 22 0 0 0 0 
			 Bullwood Hall 28 108 14 100 17 19 15 90 0 0 0 0 
			 Castington 178 143 140 126 136 229 126 205 141 226 134 236 
			 Chelmsford 0 166 0 110 1 149 2 118 0 142 0 199 
			 Cookham Wood 0 0 0 26 0 15 0 0 14 4 16 7 
			 Deerbolt 0 445 0 375 0 401 0 390 0 367 0 390 
			 Doncaster 1 287 0 222 0 258 0 260 0 262 0 311 
			 Dorchester 0 14 0 19 0 19 0 28 0 30 0 19 
			 Dover 0 23 0 33 0 22 0 38 0 16 0 14 
			 Downview 0 0 0 0 0 0 12 4 16 5 15 1 
			 Drake Hall 0 39 0 24 0 26 0 0 0 25 0 0 
			 East Sutton Park 0 0 0 24 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Eastwood Park 8 52 6 38 8 51 11 34 17 63 14 67 
			 Elmley 0 53 0 53 0 54 1 52 0 70 0 86 
			 Exeter 0 47 0 66 0 49 0 73 0 51 0 0 
			 Feltham 287 333 264 323 229 354 217 372 208 367 208 354 
			 Forest Bank 0 213 0 226 0 138 0 138 0 159 0 109 
			 Foston Hall 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 11 6 
			 Glen Parva 0 764 0 694 1 650 0 746 0 737 0 756 
			 Gloucester 0 13 0 0 0 16 0 18 0 17 1 10 
			 Guys Marsh 0 113 0 104 0 121 0 68 0 67 0 65 
			 Haslar 0 0 0 0 0 10 1 10 0 14 0 0 
			 Highdown 1 76 0 77 0 55 0 64 1 78 1 145 
			 Hindley 171 325 145 332 147 297 146 250 154 260 147 339 
			 Hollesley Bay 168 65 2 19 0 13 0 14 0 15 0 21 
			 Holloway 13 56 10 49 9 38 2 60 1 105 0 109 
			 Holme House 0 30 0 50 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Hull 0 99 0 121 0 91 0 96 0 90 0 119 
			 Huntercombe 257 88 212 52 293 64 285 53 299 55 288 68 
			 Lancaster Farms 170 285 166 270 168 271 208 295 205 291 217 290 
			 Lewes 0 40 0 19 1 28 1 32 0 41 0 29 
			 Lindholme 0 0 0 11 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Low Newton 1 77 1 62 0 57 0 58 0 36 0 21 
			 Moorland 0 324 0 420 0 255 0 352 0 251 0 347 
			 New Hall 46 52 34 46 42 50 32 44 22 49 19 53 
			 Northallerton 0 222 0 205 0 214 0 191 0 210 0 233 
			 Norwich 0 149 0 140 0 138 0 150 0 159 0 156 
			 Onley 188 295 194 310 0 199 0 157 0 160 0 199 
			 Pare 16 390 19 421 21 317 15 346 34 340 51 351 
			 Peterborough 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 29 0 31 0 49 
			 Portland 0 431 0 383 0 392 0 343 1 409 0 464 
			 Reading 0 242 0 224 0 243 0 267 0 261 2 246 
			 Rochester 0 152 0 143 0 300 0 344 0 363 0 368 
			 Stoke Heath 166 447 112 454 162 422 162 428 180 456 178 469 
			 Styal 5 77 0 25 0 0 0 38 0 39 0 59 
			 Swinfen Hall 3 246 0 236 0 287 0 306 0 306 0 337 
			 Thorn Cross 26 146 25 133 35 196 35 176 22 156 23 184 
			 Usk/Prescoed 0 0 0 10 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Warren Hill 0 0 163 27 173 35 183 28 183 33 175 36 
			 Werrington 116 14 90 23 108 31 114 19 133 22 0 0 
			 Wetherby 293 40 285 43 250 30 290 51 284 51 287 67 
			 Woodhill 0 97 0 86 3 61 5 75 6 65 3 82 
			 Other establishments 0 53 0 60 1 69 0 62 0 65 0 90 
			 (1 )To reduce the size of the table, where inmates for both age groups combined per establishment are less than 10 the establishment figures are included in "Other establishments". (2) For accuracy, figures are excluded where inmates for both age groups combined per establishment are less than 10.

Youth Justice

David Burrowes: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what timetable he has set for the publication of the strategy on the health and social care needs of children and younger people across the youth justice pathway, referred to in his Department's response to Lord Bradley's report.

Phil Hope: I have been asked to reply.
	A strategy to meet the health and social care needs of children and young people across the youth justice pathway is being developed following the launch of Lord Bradley's review of people with mental health problems or learning disabilities in the criminal justice system. The strategy for children and young people is expected to be published in the autumn 2009 following approval from the forthcoming Health and Criminal Justice Programme Board.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

US-EU Relations

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the effect of President Obama's recent visit to Europe on US-EU relations.

Bill Rammell: This was an important visit to Europe by President Obama. His meetings with partners in the G20, NATO and EU reinforced the importance of working together and helped to build further the shared sense of direction we need for a strong transatlantic relationship.

G20 Summit

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the implications for UK policy of the outcomes of the recent London G20 Summit.

Gillian Merron: The G20 London Summit was a significant success for the UK, with key agreements on: financial regulation; reform of financial institutions; preventing protectionism; development, and climate change. All of these are critical for restoring growth, building stability and supporting jobs.

Middle East Peace Process

Tom Levitt: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of discussions with his European counterparts on a united European approach to the Middle East peace process.

Bill Rammell: The EU has a hugely important role to play in achieving peace in the Middle East. When we last discussed this issue at the end of April, all 27 EU Foreign Ministers agreed that the EU approach to the Middle East Peace Process should be clear: support a two-state solution as the only viable outcome of a final settlement. Both the EU and the UK will pursue this goal vigorously in the coming months.

Middle East Peace Process

Ian McCartney: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent progress has been made in the Middle East peace process; and if he will make a statement.

Bill Rammell: We are encouraged by recent developments in the Middle East Peace Process (MEPP). The new Israeli Government has signalled a commitment to resume peace negotiations including a political track. The Palestinian Authority is also ready to enter peace negotiations with the new Israeli Government when the conditions are right. The Obama Administration has made a priority of the MEPP, appointing Senator Mitchell as a Special Envoy. The United Nations Security Council, chaired by Russia, discussed the MEPP on 11 May and issued a Presidential Statement.
	The MEPP remains a priority for HM Government. We shall continue to support efforts towards a two-state solution. My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary reiterated this during his intervention at the UN on 11 May.

General Affairs Council

Robert Flello: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had in the General Affairs Council on EU policy to tackle trade protectionism; and if he will make a statement.

Gordon Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had in the General Affairs Council on EU policy to tackle trade protectionism; and if he will make a statement.

Caroline Flint: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has not had any recent discussions at the General Affairs council on EU policy to tackle trade protectionism. Agreement at Spring European Council ahead of the London Summit to keep markets open and avoid all form of protectionist measures demonstrates Europe is committed to rejecting protectionism in order to facilitate a recovery of the world economy.

Gaza

Sharon Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps his Department is taking to facilitate the opening of all border crossings into Gaza.

Bill Rammell: The UK remains concerned with the severe humanitarian situation in Gaza. We have continually urged Israel to open the crossings into Gaza, particularly for humanitarian aid, but also for reconstruction materials and trade and have already raised this issue with the new Israeli Government. My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary made this clear in his meeting with the Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman on 13 May 2009 and also in his statement to the UN on 11 May 2009.

EU-US Relations

Anne Moffat: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has held with his US counterpart on EU-US relations following President Obama's recent visit to Europe.

Bill Rammell: Close dialogue between the EU and US remains essential as we tackle the range of challenges we share. My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary will continue to engage with my European and American colleagues closely on how we can work together to address these issues—as he last did with US Secretary of State Hilary Clinton in Washington on 12 May 2009.

Pakistan: Swat Region

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent estimate he has made of the number of UK citizens in the Swat region of Pakistan.

Bill Rammell: We believe that there are about 80,000 British nationals in Pakistan at any one time. All but a small percentage are dual nationals either resident in Pakistan or visiting family members. We do not have accurate figures for the number of British nationals in Swat but this is not an area recognised as having particularly high concentrations of British nationals when compared to other parts of the country.

BBC Kinyarwanda Service: Rwanda

Eric Joyce: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received on the suspension of the BBC Kinyarwanda service for Rwanda; and if he will make a statement.

Caroline Flint: The BBC Kinyarwanda service for Rwanda is suspended on FM due to Government action. I am concerned at this development and assured by BBC World Service that they are seeking urgent clarification of the Government's decision. The World Service refutes allegations of misreporting and is making every effort to get FM broadcasts in Kinyarwanda restored.

Afghanistan

Ann Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of the extent to which the Government's political objectives for Afghanistan have been achieved since 2001.

Bill Rammell: My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister set out our assessment of the current situation in Afghanistan and the way forward in his statement to Parliament on 29 April 2009,  Official Report, column 869, and the associated strategy document. We keep progress against our objectives in Afghanistan under constant review.

General Affairs Council: Swedish Presidency

David Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with his Swedish counterpart on the Swedish Presidency's programme for the General Affairs Council.

Caroline Flint: I visited Stockholm on 28 April for talks with the Swedish Europe Minister, Cecilia Malmstrom. Sweden has clearly prioritised: tackling the global financial crisis; overseeing the coming EU institutional changes; and working towards an ambitious global agreement at the UN Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen this December. We welcome these priorities.

General Affairs Council: Swedish Presidency

Crispin Blunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with his Swedish counterpart on the Swedish Presidency's programme for the General Affairs Council.

Caroline Flint: I visited Stockholm on 28 April for talks with the Swedish Europe Minister, Cecilia Malmstrom. Sweden has set clear priorities: tackling the global financial crisis; overseeing EU institutional changes; and working towards an ambitious global agreement at the UN Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen this December. We support these priorities.

Zimbabwe

Nicholas Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will seek an early meeting with the Prime Minister of Zimbabwe to discuss the political situation in that country.

Gillian Merron: My right hon. Friend, the Foreign Secretary welcomed Finance Minister Biti to a meeting on 30 April 2009. My noble Friend the Minister for Africa, Asia and the UN, Lord Malloch Brown, also met Biti on that day, and met Prime Minister Tsvangirai and Foreign Minister Mumbengegwi in South Africa on 9 May 2009—the first official meetings between British and Zimbabwean Ministers since April 2000 and reflecting the UK's concern to support the ongoing process of reform in Zimbabwe.

Afghanistan and Iraq

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many British citizens are directly employed by his Department in  (a) Afghanistan and  (b) Iraq; and in what capacities.

Bill Rammell: In Afghanistan there are 297 and in Iraq 339 British Citizens employed by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO).
	The capacity in which these people are employed crosses political, development and support services.
	The number of British citizens employed in Afghanistan and Iraq includes all FCO staff (civil servants and inward secondees), those employed under an individual contract with the FCO as well as those contracted to a hiring company under contract to the FCO. Contracted staff include cleaning, catering, security, medical and facilities management.

Aung San Suu Kyi

Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent reports he has received on the health of Aung San Suu Kyi and the medical treatment that she is receiving; and if he will make a statement.

Bill Rammell: Following the arrest of Aung San Suu Kyi's doctor on 7 May 2009, an assistant doctor was permitted to visit Aung San Suu Kyi on Friday 8 May 2009 and reported that she suffered from low blood pressure and dehydration. Mrs Suu Kyi was reported to be in good spirits during a further visit permitted on Monday 11 May 2009. We have received reports that she appeared to be in good health on arrival for her trial on 18 May 2009. We understand that her doctor has now been released but we are not aware that he has been able to see Mrs Suu Kyi since her arrest.

Aung San Suu Kyi

Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent reports he has received on the conditions in Insein Prison in Burma; and if he will make a statement.

Bill Rammell: On 16 February, the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in Burma, Tomas Quintana, was able to visit Insein prison as part of his fact finding tour to the country. He was able in inspect certain areas of the prison, although his visit was heavily stage-managed by the Burmese authorities. In his report of 11 March 2009 he drew attention to some prisoners being shackled and their lack of access to legal representation. We support his call for the release of all political prisoners in Insein prison and elsewhere.

Aung San Suu Kyi

Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans there are for the UN Security Council to take steps in response to the arrest and detention of Aung San Suu Kyi by the Burmese regime on 14 May 2009; and if he will make a statement.

Bill Rammell: We share UN Secretary General, Ban Ki Moon's expression of grave concern at Aung San Suu Kyi's arrest on 14 May 2009.
	We are continuing to discuss the situation with our international colleagues in the UN. Once the outcome of the trial is known, we will actively consider how best to engage members of the UN Security Council further on the situation in Burma.

Australia

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had on international security with the Australian Government.

Gillian Merron: holding answer 18 May 2009
	The British and Australian Governments are in regular and close contact at ministerial and official level to discuss the full range of international security challenges. My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has regular discussions on security issues with his Australian counterpart most recently in London in April 2009.
	During the visit of the Australian Prime Minister for the London summit in April, a joint statement was issued by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister and Prime Minister Rudd, which agreed a new and comprehensive security partnership covering key areas of common concern.

British Overseas Territories: Crime Prevention

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many records are stored on the Overseas Territories Regional Crime Intelligence System.

Gillian Merron: There are 1,406,891 records stored on the Overseas Territories Regional Crime Intelligence System.

Democratic Republic of Congo: Security

Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with his UN Security Council (UNSC) counterparts on implementation of UNSC Resolution 1843 in South Kivu.

Gillian Merron: The UN Security Council most recently discussed the uplift of personnel and resources for the UN peacekeeping mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) (MONUC) in consultations on 9 April 2009. This matter will also be raised during a UN Security Council visit to the DRC between 17 and 18 May 2009. On 13 May 2009, my noble Friend the Minister for Africa, Asia and the UN, Lord Malloch-Brown, discussed the issue with Alan Doss, the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for DRC.

Departmental Telecommunications

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much his Department paid for telecommunications services in the most recent year for which figures are available; when the contract with its existing telecommunications supplier referred to on page 131 of the Budget Red Book 2009 was signed; who the telecommunications supplier is; and what steps he plans to take to achieve the £6 million per annum saving referred to on page 131 of the Budget Red Book.

Gillian Merron: In the financial year 2008-09 the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) spent £26 million on centrally funded telecommunications services, net of VAT. The contract with the current supplier, Global Crossing, was signed on 10 May 2000.
	The contract provides a review mechanism enabling the FCO to ensure that it continues to receive value for money over the term of the agreement. Savings arising from changed technologies and market conditions have been identified and passed on by the supplier as an agreed series of cost reductions. As a result the amount paid in 2008-09 was £26 million, not the £32 million originally agreed. This mechanism will operate for the remaining duration of the contract.

Embassies: Festivals and Special Occasions

Adam Holloway: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what guidance his Department has issued on the marking of  (a) Christmas,  (b) Easter and  (c) other religious festivals in British Embassies and High Commissions overseas; and if he will place in the Library a copy of such guidance.

Gillian Merron: holding answer 14 May 2009
	The Foreign and Commonwealth Office recognises the significant contribution played by different faiths, both home and abroad, to the fabric of UK society. We currently have no central guidance on this matter as we leave this to the discretion of our Heads of Mission overseas. However, I have asked officials to review whether formal guidance is necessary.

EU Battlegroups

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what  (a) equipment and  (b) personnel have been committed to the EU Atalanta mission.

Caroline Flint: The UK contribution to Operation Atalanta includes the operation commander and the operation headquarters at Northwood. The Royal Navy also provided HMS Northumberland for the first phase of the operation but she has since moved onto other duties. While not formally part of the mission, tanker support has been provided, on an occasional basis, through RFA Wave Knight.
	Greece, France, Belgium, Netherlands, Norway, Germany, Italy, Spain and UK have provided a combination of assets and manpower to Operation Atalanta. Specific details of which can be found on the EU operation headquarters website:
	www.mschoa.eu
	The UK is also providing a liaison officer embedded in the Combined Maritime Forces (CMF), a naval coalition conducting counter terrorism, counter narcotics, counter smuggling and counter piracy operations. The Royal Navy also contributes a frigate, currently HMS Portland to Combined Maritime Forces. EU and CMF operations work together highly effectively in pursuing common objectives.

EU Budget

Peter Bone: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of the prospects for reform of the EU budget; and if he will make a statement.

Caroline Flint: holding answer 18 May 2009
	In December 2005 the European Council agreed for an EU budget review to take place by the end of 2009. We look forward to discussing the Commission's white paper with member states.

Gambia: Politics and Government

Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations his Department has made to the Government of the Gambia on  (a) the case of David and Fiona Fulton and  (b) new charges brought against David and Fiona Fulton.

Gillian Merron: We have registered our interest in the Fulton case with the Gambian authorities and made representations where appropriate on behalf of Mr. Fulton. Mr. Fulton has not asked us to make representations with regard to the latest charges brought against him. Mrs Fulton does not face new charges.

Ghana: Politics and Government

Linda Gilroy: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with his Ghanaian counterpart on the political situation in Ghana.

Gillian Merron: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary met the Ghanaian Foreign Minister during President Mills' visit to London two weeks ago.
	They discussed the success of the recent democratic elections in Ghana and the positive example this has set in the region, the continued work between both Governments on promoting stability in West Africa and the need for an equitable solution to the challenge of climate change. The discussion also touched upon the rich variety of educational and cultural links between the UK and Ghana.

Gibraltar: Politics and Government

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when the appointment of the new Governor of Gibraltar is expected to be announced.

Caroline Flint: holding answer 18 May 2009
	The appointment of the Governor is a matter for Her Majesty The Queen acting on the advice of Government and will be announced at the appropriate time.

India: Elections

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received on the probable outcome of the general election in India; and if he will make a statement.

Bill Rammell: The Indian election result was announced on 16 May 2009. It was expected that no one party would have a sufficient majority to form the new Indian Government. The relevant political parties will now consult to form the next coalition. The UK enjoys constructive relations with India and we look forward to working with the new Indian Government.

Iran: Religious Freedom

Ben Wallace: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Iranian authorities on the detention without charge of Maryam Rostampour and Marzieh Amirizadeh in Evin Prison in Iran.

Bill Rammell: We have received worrying reports that Maryam Rostampour and Marzieh Amirizadeh are being held in Evin prison following their arrest by Iranian security officers on 5 March 2009. The women are known be practicing Christians. Reports suggest that neither have been charged with any crime defined under Iranian or international legislation, nor have they been permitted access to lawyers. The UK has genuine concerns for their safety and well-being, which are heightened by the fact that the Iranian Parliament is currently debating a draft Bill which could codify life imprisonment for female apostates.
	We have made clear to the Iranian authorities on many occasions that we believe persecution of individuals on the grounds of their ethnicity or religious beliefs is unacceptable, and will continue to do so through the EU and bilaterally. We will continue to press the Iranian authorities to take seriously their international human rights obligations and uphold the right to freedom of religion and belief as described in Article 18 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (to which Iran is a state party).

Iraq: Oil

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has received from the Government of Iraq on  (a) the return of monies held in escrow under the UN oil-for-food programme and not yet received and  (b) the disbursement of international commitments for development aid; what estimate he has made of the sums due to the Iraqi Government in each case; and if he will make a statement.

Bill Rammell: The Government have not received any specific representations from the Government of Iraq (GoI) on the oil-for-food programme. However, the GoI has asked us to help it resolve outstanding UN resolutions relating to Iraq. We support the review of those UN Security Council Resolutions that are still in effect as part of the process to help Iraq normalise its relationship with the international community.
	We will continue to work with other members of the UN Security Council to resolve outstanding issues on the oil-for-food programme so that it can be concluded with the mutual agreement of all parties, including the Iraqi Government.
	We have not received any representations from the GoI on the disbursement of international development commitments. Any outstanding commitments from the international community regarding the disbursement of development funds are a matter for the GoI to address direct with donors.

Malta: Illegal Immigrants

Jacqui Lait: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with  (a) the government of Malta and  (b) the EU on illegal migration to Malta from the African coast; and if he will make a statement.

Caroline Flint: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary last met Foreign Minster Dr. Tonio Borg on 20 November 2008. During this meeting migration was discussed, and Dr. Borg mentioned co-operation with Italy on illegal migration.
	Illegal migration was also raised by Malta and Italy at the EU General Affairs and External Relations Council on 27 April 2009, where Ministers noted the challenges that migration across the Mediterranean poses for all member states.
	In addition, my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary attends the Justice and Home Affairs Council, where illegal transit migration routes from Africa through the Mediterranean are regularly discussed.

Mauritania: Diplomatic Relations

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of the state of relations between Mauritania and the UK.

Bill Rammell: We regularly assess our relationship with Mauritania, and the political situation in the country, following the 2008 coup.
	We remain concerned that there has been little progress towards the restoration of democracy, despite increasing international pressure. We, in line with international partners like the EU, US, North Atlantic Treaty Organisation and the African Union, maintain working level contact with Mauritanian officials.
	The UK continues to fully support the EU in its efforts to restore democracy through the provisions of the Cotonou Agreement.

Middle East: Armed Conflict

Joan Ryan: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with the French Government on Israeli soldier Corporal Shalit.

Bill Rammell: The UK continues to call for the immediate, unconditional, and safe release of Gilad Shalit, in public and in private. My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary reiterated this most recently in his statement to the UN Security Council on 11 May 2009. The case of Corporal Shalit was also discussed during an EU Foreign Ministers' meeting in March 2009.

Middle East: Armed Conflict

Joan Ryan: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs 
	(1)  what recent representations  (a) he and  (b) officials in his Department have made to the Palestinian Authority on Israeli soldier Corporal Shalit.
	(2)  whether his Department has taken steps since 25 June 2006 to seek to secure the release of Israeli soldier Corporal Shalit.

Bill Rammell: The UK continues to call for the immediate, unconditional, and safe release of Gilad Shalit, in public and in private. My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary reiterated this most recently in his statement to the UN Security Council on 11 May 2009. We have also shown our support to Corporal Shalit's family by meeting his parents on several occasions.

Morocco: Human Rights

Joan Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will investigate reports of the torture and solitary confinement of Yahya Mohamed el Hafed Aaza, detained at Ayat-Melol prison.

Bill Rammell: We are aware that a Mr. el Hafed Aaza has been sentenced to 15 years in prison. At this time we do not know what conditions he is being held in or what he has been convicted of.
	Our embassy in Rabat is making further inquiries and will continue to monitor the situation closely in partnership with European colleagues.

Piracy

Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether representatives from his Department plan to attend the international conference on piracy in Malaysia in May 2009; and if he will make a statement.

Bill Rammell: A senior Foreign and Commonwealth Office Legal Advisor will attend the Kuala Lumpur International conference on piracy and crimes at sea on 18 and 19 May 2009.

Spain: Anti-Semitism

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent reports he has received of levels of anti-Semitism in Spain; and if he will make a statement.

Caroline Flint: We have not received any specific reports of serious anti-Semitic incidents having taken place recently in Spain although we are aware of surveys which have suggested a rise in unfavourable views of Jews.
	As an EU member state, Spain is a signatory to the European Convention on Human Rights and is fully committed to combating discrimination and upholding the rights of minority groups.

Sri Lanka: Armed Conflict

Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans there are for further UN Security Council action in response to the humanitarian situation in Sri Lanka; and if he will make a statement.

Bill Rammell: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has been in regular contact with his counterparts in the UN Security Council on the situation in Sri Lanka. Most recently he held talks at the UN on 11 May 2009 with the UN Secretary General, other UN Security Council members and non-governmental organisations. The UK again raised Sri Lanka at the UN Security Council on 13 May 2009, under 'Other Matters', and UN Security Council members released a statement urging the Government of Sri Lanka to extend full co-operation to the UN in order to resolve the humanitarian crisis.
	We welcome the continued engagement by the UN, sometimes in the face of opposition from others, and we will continue to look for further opportunities to keep the UN focused on the situation in Sri Lanka.

Sri Lanka: International Assistance

Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with his UN Security Council counterparts on the $1.9 billion IMF emergency loan package for Sri Lanka; and if he will make a statement.

Bill Rammell: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary regularly discusses the situation in Sri Lanka with his counterparts in the UN Security Council, most recently on 11 May 2009. However, the International Monetary Fund has not yet presented a programme for Sri Lanka and the UK has not been asked to vote on a programme yet. Once a programme is presented, it will be assessed on its merits and the situation on the ground in Sri Lanka at the time to decide whether it will help the people of Sri Lanka.

Territorial Waters

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent progress has been made in talks between his Department and representatives of  (a) Spain and  (b) Gibraltar on territorial waters; and if he will make a statement.

Caroline Flint: There have been no recent talks between the UK and either Spain or Gibraltar on the sovereignty of territorial waters. The Government are fully confident of its sovereignty over British Gibraltar Territorial Waters (BGTW) and continues to make this clear to Spain whenever appropriate.
	However, the UK has made written and oral representations to Spain regarding European Commission Decision 2009/95/EC. Under the decision, Spain has put forward a site of community importance under the Habitats Directive which encompasses BGTW, including an existing site designated by the UK under the same directive. As the UK is the only member state competent to propose a site covering BGTW, we do not recognise the validity of the adopted site. The UK is deeply concerned that Spain should seek to designate an area of BGTW and that this designation should have been approved.

USA

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had on international security with the US administration.

Bill Rammell: holding answer 18 May 2009
	My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary regularly discusses issues of international security with representatives of the US Administration—including in his frequent conversations with US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.
	He most recently discussed international security issues during his visit to Washington on 11-12 May 2009 where he met with Secretary Clinton, Deputy Secretary Steinberg and other representatives of the US Administration.

USA

Dai Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what matters were discussed in his meeting with his US counterpart during his recent visit to Washington DC; and what the outcomes of the meeting were.

Bill Rammell: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary met US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton during his visit to Washington on 11-12 May 2009. They had a wide ranging discussion covering key foreign policy issues including Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iran and Sri Lanka.
	Secretary Clinton and the Foreign Secretary also agreed a joint statement on Sri Lanka which was issued following their meeting.

Uzbekistan: Human Rights

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent reports he has received on the human rights position of children employed in the cotton industry in Uzbekistan.

Caroline Flint: The UK remains concerned about allegations of the use of child labour in the cotton industry in Uzbekistan. We have raised these concerns with the Uzbek Government most recently in discussions with the Uzbek Ministry of Foreign Affairs in March. Our embassy also remains in regular contact with the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) on the issue of child labour in Uzbekistan.
	In order to help establish stronger child labour monitoring systems our embassy in Tashkent is supporting a project that estimates the prevalence of child labour in remote rural cotton growing areas of Uzbekistan. The project aims to prevent child labour through informal education and vocational training. We have also welcomed Uzbekistan's recent ratification of the International Labour Organisation Conventions on the minimum age of employment and on the worst forms of child labour, and stand ready to work with the Uzbek Government to implement its international obligations in this regard.
	We remain concerned at the overall level of respect for human rights in Uzbekistan, and regularly raise these concerns through a critical, but constructive dialogue with the Uzbek authorities in Tashkent and in discussions with the Uzbek Embassy in London. In addition, the EU has a comprehensive human rights dialogue with Uzbekistan, which includes a focus on the need for further progress in Uzbek promotion and protection of human rights. The third round of talks is due to take place on 10 June 2009.

INNOVATION, UNIVERSITIES AND SKILLS

Higher Education: Admissions

David Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills how many  (a) applicants and  (b) accepted applicants to full-time undergraduate courses in England there were in each of the last 10 years; and how many such applicants were domiciled in (i) England, (ii) Wales, (iii) Scotland and (iv) Northern Ireland.

David Lammy: The information is given in the tables. The figures cover students who apply to full-time undergraduate courses via UCAS. UCAS does not cover applications to part-time undergraduate or postgraduate courses, or students who apply directly to institutions.
	
		
			  Applicants to full-time undergraduate courses in England via UCAS UK domiciled students 
			   Home domicile of student  
			  Year of entry  England  Northern Ireland  Scotland  Wales  Grand total 
			 1998 298,923 8,088 6,936 13,053 327,000 
			 1999 296,081 7,617 6,781 12,546 323,025 
			 2000 295,555 7,219 6,748 12,174 321,696 
			 2001 302,400 6,927 5,965 12,272 327,564 
			 2002 302,698 6,762 5,472 11,962 326,894 
			 2003 309,561 7,114 5,407 12,273 334,355 
			 2004 314,556 7,813 5,064 12,001 339,434 
			 2005 342,927 8,836 5,281 12,675 369,719 
			 2006 329,842 8,545 5,120 12,060 355,567 
			 2007 350,127 9,068 5,032 11,950 376,177 
			 2008 389,065 8,833 4,774 12,145 414,817 
		
	
	
		
			  Accepted applicants to full-time undergraduate courses in England via UCAS UK domiciled students 
			   Home domicile of student  
			  Year of entry  England  Northern Ireland  Scotland  Wales  Grand total 
			 1998 234,828 2,359 2,174 6,478 245,839 
			 1999 239,573 2,250 2,149 6,388 250,360 
			 2000 243,347 2,129 2,177 6,262 253,915 
			 2001 257,705 2,229 2,109 6,527 268,570 
			 2002 262,657 2,171 2,064 6,365 273,257 
			 2003 263,958 2,613 1,989 6,423 274,983 
			 2004 263,773 2,833 1,799 6,102 274,507 
			 2005 287,909 3,174 1,881 6,324 299,288 
			 2006 277,237 2,995 1,743 5,434 287,409 
			 2007 294,533 3,203 1,754 5,306 304,796 
			 2008 330,400 3,214 1,774 5,491 340,879 
			  Notes on UCAS applicant data: 1. The applicant figures cover applicants submitting one or more applications to an English institution (up to 2007 each applicant could submit up to six applications, this was reduced to five from 2008). Students in this table applying to English institutions may also have applied to institutions in one or more of the other home countries, and some may have been accepted to institutions in those countries. 2. In 2008 the Nursing and Midwifery Admissions System (NMAS) was subsumed in to the UCAS application system and part of the increase from 2007 to 2008 can be attributed this factor. There were 14,184 applicants who were accepted to former NMAS courses, the majority of whom were English domiciled (and NMAS was only for English institutions).  Source: UCAS

Students: Finance

Stephen Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills how many and what proportion of students studying for a higher education qualification in a further education college in 2007-08 were  (a) directly funded by the Higher Education Funding Council for England,  (b) funded via a university and  (c) funded by the Learning and Skills Council; and what proportion of the total number of higher education students in England in that year each represents.

David Lammy: The latest available information is given in the table.
	
		
			  Higher education enrolments by source of funding: English Further education colleges( 1)  academic years 2005/06( 2)  and 2007/08( 3) 
			   Number  Proportion (percentage)  Proportion of all higher education  enrolments( 4)( ) (percentage) 
			 Total higher education enrolments at further education colleges(5) 172,160 100.0 8.4 
			  Of which:
			 Directly funded by HEFCE(6) 52,775 30.7 2.6 
			 Funded via a University(2,7) 50,015 29.1 2.4 
			 Funded by LSC 47,140 27.4 2.3 
			 (1) The figures have not been adjusted for colleges that transferred during this period from the FE to the HE sector, or for those which merged with HE institutions. (2) Funded via a university figures come from the 2005/06 HESA record and were provided by HEFCE analysts. 2006/07 and 2007/08 HESA data are available but the equivalent analysis has not yet been performed by HEFCE. Therefore proportions given in the table for students funded via a university are estimates based on earlier data, and may not reflect 2007/08 actual proportions. (3) 2007/08 data are provisional. The final 2007/08 data will be available in January 2010. (4) All Higher Education enrolments cover Higher Education enrolments at Further Education Colleges plus Higher Education enrolments at Higher Education Institutions. The underlying Higher Education Institution data come from the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) student record and are on a DIUS whole year count basis. Includes students registered by an English HE institution that are taught at any UK FE college (not just English FE colleges). (5) Includes students with other sources of funding, therefore the sum of HEFCE funded, funded via a university and LSC funded will not sum to the number of all enrolments; likewise the proportions will not sum to 100 per cent. (6) Includes students funded via a HEFCE-recognised funding consortium led by an HE institution. (7) Includes students registered at any English HE institution, this includes HE colleges as well as universities.  Notes: 1. ILR figures are on a DIUS whole year count basis, which counts students enrolled at any point in the academic year. 2. Figures have been rounded to the nearest five and proportions have been rounded to one decimal place.  Source: Learning and Skills Council (LSC) Individualised Learner Record (ILR) apart from funded via a University figures which are from the 2005/06 Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) student record.

Community Relations: Islam

Paul Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills when he plans to reply to question 245558, on Islamic Studies outside the Islamic world, tabled on 16 December 2008 and transferred from the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government on 12 January 2009.

David Lammy: Since the Government designated Islamic studies as a strategically important subject in 2007, the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE), following a period of research and consultation, has been working with other funding agencies in the UK to develop a programme of work designed to address its strategic importance and to provide additional support for it as a subject in UK higher education.
	HEFCE research and consultation showed that Islamic studies scholars are often relatively isolated experts affiliated to different departments, with weak links to scholars doing related work at other institutions.
	HEFCE is, for this reason, funding a national network to bring the community of Islamic studies scholars closer together.
	This network aims to provide information on courses and staff, facilitate events, seminars and exchange of ideas, and enable academics to connect. The network will be managed through a website and complemented by a programme to digitise Islamic studies resources developed by the Joint Information Systems Committee (JISC).
	The Higher Education Academy has been funded for a short development phase to plan and develop the national network, which we expect to be operational from the autumn.
	Although a national network, the web facility and international links within the UK academic community should further enrich this work and strengthen the UK's position as a leading centre for the study of the subject.
	Further details can be found on HEFCE's website at:
	http://www.hefce.ac.uk/aboutus/sis/islamic/
	 UK network and digitisation programme
	In January 2009, HEFCE awarded £95,000 to the Higher Education Academy to work with the Joint Information Systems Committee (JISC) on the development of a full business case for an Islamic studies UK network. We expect that this work will inform a further three-year implementation phase.
	HEFCE has awarded £350,000 to the JISC Digitisation Programme to support two specific strands of work relating to the digitisation of resources for use in Islamic studies research and teaching. This is based on recommendations in Exeter University's 2008 "Review of User Requirements for Digitised Resources in Islamic Studies".

BUSINESS, ENTERPRISE AND REGULATORY REFORM

Departmental Lost Property

John Mason: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what property has been lost or stolen from his Department in the last 12 months; and what the estimated cost was of replacement of such property.

Patrick McFadden: During the period 1 February 2008 to 28 February 2009, this Department's records show that 71 items were reported as lost or stolen on the BERR central London estate with an estimated total replacement value of £13,500. Of these, 17 items were subsequently found with an estimated replacement value of £1,000.
	In addition to the above, during the period 1 March 2009 to 30 April 2009, a further 16 items were reported lost or stolen with an estimated total replacement value of £4,400. One of these items was subsequently found with an estimated value of £50.00.
	This figure includes small, low value personal items reported lost or stolen as well as a small number of mobile phones, multi media equipment and other electrical accessories.

DUCHY OF LANCASTER

Departmental Pay

Vincent Cable: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many and what proportion of staff in  (a) the Cabinet Office and  (b) the Central Office of Information received bonus payments in each of the last five years; what the total amount of bonuses paid was; what the largest single payment was in each year; and if he will make a statement.

Tom Watson: An element of the Cabinet Office's overall pay award is allocated to non-consolidated variable pay related to performance. These payments are used to drive high performance and form part of the pay award for members of staff who demonstrate exceptional performance, for example by exceeding targets set or meeting challenging objectives. Non-consolidated variable pay awards are funded from within existing pay bill controls, and have to be re-earned each year against pre-determined targets and, as such, do not add to future pay bill costs.
	For details of the cost of end of year non-consolidated variable payments in 2004 to 2007 I refer the hon. Member to the answers given on:
	2 July 2007,  Official Report, column 901W, to the hon. Member for Upper Bann (David Simpson).
	6 June 2008,  Official Report, column 1185W, to the hon. Member for Runnymede and Weybridge (Mr. Hammond).
	Details of total paybill and headcount for each year can be found in the Cabinet Office Annual Report and Resource Accounts, which are published on the Cabinet Office website.
	We would not normally give out information pertaining to an individual's remuneration. However, the average senior civil service non-consolidated award paid by the Cabinet Office over the past five years is:
	
		
			   Average non-consolidated award (£) 
			 2008 9,260 
			 2007 7,280 
			 2006 6,820 
			 2005 4,520 
			 2004 5,000 
		
	
	I have asked the chief executive of the Central Office of Information (COI) to write to the hon. Member with the information relating to COI.
	Copies of the COI letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

Disadvantaged

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if his Department will commission research on the relationship between levels of public spending and levels of deprivation across the UK.

John Healey: I have been asked to reply.
	We conduct regular research on regeneration and economic development including the impact of government programmes on the most deprived areas, and publish research reports regularly on our website. Other Government Departments undertake and publish similar research.

Written Questions: Government Responses

David Amess: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster when he plans to answer question 270079 tabled on 17 April 2009, about special advisers; and if he will make a statement.

Liam Byrne: A response has been sent to the hon. Member.

CHILDREN, SCHOOLS AND FAMILIES

Building Schools for the Future Programme

Alan Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what average rate of interest is being paid on the 30 Building Schools for the Future contracts which had been signed with the private sector by the end of March 2009.

Jim Knight: holding answer 18 May 2009
	There were 18 signed projects at the end of March 2009 involving private finance; the average all-in rate of interest was 5.88 per cent.

Building Schools for the Future Programme

Alan Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what rate of interest is being charged by the Government on the £2.4 billion set aside as the additional HM Treasury contribution to private finance initiative schemes in the Building Schools for the Future programme.

Jim Knight: holding answer 18 May 2009
	The rate of interest to be charged by the Treasury's Infrastructure Finance Unit (TIFU) to assist Building Schools for the Future PFI projects is not set in advance. It will lend on a commercial basis and at rates applicable in the market at the time of financial close of a project.
	The £2.4 billion relates to the value of BSF PFI projects in procurement at the time of the announcement according to figures provided to HMT as part of the pre-Budget PFI data collection exercise.
	Not every project is expected to require assistance, only those projects which cannot secure debt finance on acceptable terms.

Cam House School Dursley

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families whether he has received a proposal from Gloucestershire county council to change the status of Cam House school.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: I can confirm that the Secretary of State has not, to date, received a copy of a statutory proposal notice relating to Cam House school.
	When the school was placed in special measures the local authority (LA) temporarily suspended residential provision. Should the LA decide to permanently close residential provision then it would be considered as a prescribed alteration and the authority would be obliged to follow statutory procedures relating to school organisation.
	The LA received approval from the Secretary of State on 13 February 2009 to set up an Interim Executive Board for the school.

Primary Education

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what forecast he has made of the number of children there will be in primary schools in each year to 2031.

Jim Knight: holding answer 18 May 2009
	The Department's current estimates for the number of full-time equivalent pupils in education in maintained primary schools in England are shown in the following table:
	
		
			  Projected numbers of pupils (in thousands)( 1, 2)  in maintained primary schools 
			  As at January  Primary schools pupils 
			 2009 3,954 
			 2010 3,980 
			 2011 4,035 
			 2012 4,110 
			 2013 4,201 
			 2014 4,300 
			 2015 4,387 
			 2016 4,462 
			 2017 4,528 
			 (1) Full-time equivalents, counting each part-time pupil as 0.5. The numbers have been rounded to the nearest one thousand. (2) Experience has shown that totals in maintained primary schools are usually within ±0.2 per cent. for the first projected year. There is less certainty in the longer term. Factors which contribute to differences between projections and outturn data include the underlying population trends, participation among under fives and variations of proportions attending independent schools. Projections are increasing in uncertainty. 
		
	
	Updated projections for the number of pupils in primary and nursery schools are due to be published in the departmental annual report on 8 June 2009. These will take into account the provisional annual school census figures for January 2009. Projections are not shown beyond 2017 because of the increasing degree of uncertainty over time.

Secondary Education

David Chaytor: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many pupils entered state secondary schools in each local authority in year 7 in September 2008; how many and what percentage of these pupils entered schools selecting other than via banding systems  (a) wholly by academic ability,  (b) partly by academic ability and  (c) by aptitude; and how many of them transferred to state secondary schools from primary schools in the private sector.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: The Department does not hold data on the number of pupils who entered state secondary schools in September 2008. The latest available data about the number of admissions to schools can be accessed in the statistical first release (SFR) "Admission Appeals for Maintained Primary and Secondary Schools in England, 2006/07"
	http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/rsgatewav/DB/SFR/s000789/index.shtml (table 3).
	Data for 2007/08 are due to be published in late June.
	The Department also collects data about offers of secondary school places. The data on offers made in March 2008 (which will relate to the number of pupils who entered state secondary schools in September 2008) can be accessed in the SFR "Secondary School Applications and Offers"
	http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/STA/t000791/index.shtml.
	These figures are likely to have changed slightly by September for a number of reasons, such as appeals being successful, children moving home and late applications being processed. However, local authorities are not required to submit updated data in September.
	The Department does not collect data on the admission arrangements applied to determine which school places are offered, or on the number of children that have transferred to state secondary schools from primary schools in the independent sector.

Teachers: Disciplinary Proceedings

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many  (a) head teachers,  (b) deputy head teachers,  (c) other teaching staff and  (d) non-teaching staff were suspended from duties in each local authority area in each of the last three years for which figures are available.

Jim Knight: The operation of disciplinary procedures in schools, including those that result in suspension, is a matter for local determination. Accordingly the information requested about the suspension of teaching and non-teaching staff is not held centrally.

Young Offender Institutions: ICT

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families on how many and what proportion of computers in  (a) young offender institutions and  (b) secure training centres malware was detected in 2008.

Beverley Hughes: holding answer 14 May 2009
	The National Offender Management Service (NOMS) is responsible for overseeing the management of services in young offender institutions. The Youth Justice Board (YJB) is responsible for monitoring the services provided by contractors in secure training centres.
	Neither NOMS nor the YJB have received any reports of malware being detected in young offender institutions or secure training centres in 2008.

Young Offenders: Essex

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many young people were in young offender institutions in Essex in each of the last five years.

David Hanson: I have been asked to reply.
	Available information provided in the following table shows the number of 15-17 year olds and young adults under sentence in prison establishments in Essex as at the end of June 2003 to June 2007 (latest available).
	Young adults are those aged 18-20 and those 21 year olds who were aged 20 or under at conviction who have not been reclassified as part of the adult population.
	
		
			  Population in prison establishments in Essex, under sentence, by age group 15-20, 2003-07 
			   As at 30 June each year 
			   2003  2004  2005  2006( 1)  2007 
			 Bullwood Hall(1) 114 108 105 0 0 
			 Chelmsford 110 150 120 142 199 
			 (1) HMP Bullwood Hall previously a female prison was re-roled to take male Category C inmates only. The young offender institution unit and the female juvenile institution unit at HMP Bullwood Hall closed and stopped taking inmates. 
		
	
	These figures have been drawn from administrative IT systems, which, as with any large scale recording system, are subject to possible errors with data entry and processing.

COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Armed Forces: Housing

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what assessment she has made of the merits of allowing members of the armed forces to claim single household council tax rebate for married quarters when posted to other military establishments in the UK; and if she will make a statement.

John Healey: A dwelling (including married quarters) of which the Secretary of State for Defence is the owner, held for the purposes of armed forces accommodation, is exempt from council tax under Class O of the Council Tax (Exempt Dwellings) Order 1992 (SI. 1992/558). A local authority therefore cannot issue a council tax demand notice in respect of such a property, and the question of single person discount does not arise.
	The Ministry of Defence pays a contribution in lieu of council tax to local authorities in respect of the totality of the dwellings on each of its estates, in an amount broadly equivalent to the amount of tax that would otherwise be due. As part of the terms and conditions under which service personnel occupy such quarters, an amount is recovered by the Ministry from the occupiers. The detail of those arrangements is determined by the Secretary of State for Defence.

Community Relations: Islam

Paul Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how the Government plans to promote the UK as a standard setter for Islamic studies outside the Islamic world, as referred to on page 4 of the report Preventing Violent Extremism: A Strategy for Delivery.

David Lammy: I have been asked to reply.
	Since the Government designated Islamic studies as a strategically important subject in 2007, the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE), following a period of research and consultation, has been working with other funding agencies in the UK to develop a programme of work designed to address its strategic importance and to provide additional support for it as a subject in UK higher education.
	HEFCE research and consultation showed that Islamic studies scholars are often relatively isolated experts affiliated to different departments, with weak links to scholars doing related work at other institutions.
	HEFCE is, for this reason, funding a national network to bring the community of Islamic studies scholars closer together.
	This network aims to provide information on courses and staff, facilitate events, seminars and exchange of ideas, and enable academics to connect. The network will be managed through a website and complemented by a programme to digitise Islamic studies resources developed by the Joint Information Systems Committee (JISC).
	The Higher Education Academy has been funded for a short development phase to plan and develop the national network, which we expect to be operational from the autumn.
	Although a national network, the web facility and international links within the UK academic community should further enrich this work and strengthen the UK's position as a leading centre for the study of the subject.
	Further details can be found on HEFCE's website at
	http://www.hefce.ac.uk/aboutus/sis/islamic/
	 UK network and digitisation programme
	In January 2009, HEFCE awarded £95,000 to the Higher Education Academy to work with the Joint Information Systems Committee (JISC) on the development of a full business case for an Islamic studies UK network. We expect that this work will inform a further three-year implementation phase.
	HEFCE has awarded £350,000 to the JISC Digitisation Programme to support two specific strands of work relating to the digitisation of resources for use in Islamic studies research and teaching. This is based on recommendations in Exeter University's 2008 "Review of User Requirements for Digitised Resources in Islamic Studies".

Departmental Buildings

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much her Department and its predecessors spent on building maintenance in each of the last five years; and if she will make a statement.

John Healey: The Department for Communities and Local Government and its predecessors incurred the following expenditure on building maintenance across the headquarters estate during the last five financial years:
	
		
			  Financial year  Cost (£) 
			 2004-05 1,493,230 
			 2005-06 2,075,079 
			 2006-07 1,646,722 
			 2007-08 1,564,742 
			 2008-09 1,713,495 
		
	
	The Department and its predecessors had not maintained records of their agencies' and arms length bodies' maintenance spend. This information could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Contracts

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government which services her Department and its predecessor have outsourced in each of the last five years; and if she will make a statement.

John Healey: The Department has outsourced its information technology and payroll services in the last five years.

Departmental ICT

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government on how many and what proportion of computers in her Department malware was detected in 2008.

John Healey: It is not in the interests of the UK's national security for Departments to confirm information on the number of malicious attacks against their IT systems.
	Communities and Local Government complies with Mandatory Requirement 39 of the Security Policy Framework which requires a policy on managing risks posed by all forms of malicious software ('malware').

Departmental Pay

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much  (a) her Department and  (b) its agencies paid in end-of-year performance bonuses to (i) all staff and (ii) senior Civil Service staff in 2008-09; and how many such payments were made.

John Healey: The Communities and Local Government total pay bill was £93,582,821, of which 0.63 per cent. was used for non-consolidated performance payments to staff. For the 2008-09 financial year non-consolidated performance payments of £428,157 were made to staff and £856,392 to senior civil servants.
	All non-consolidated payments above are funded within existing pay bill controls and have to be re-earned each year against pre-determined targets and, as such, do not add to future pay bill costs.
	The non-consolidated performance pay pot made to senior civil servants is based on the recommendations by the independent senior salaries review body. The Government has responded to current economic conditions by freezing the size of the SCS non-consolidated pot.
	Communities and Local Government do not hold information centrally on non-consolidated payments made to staff within its agencies.

Derelict Land

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much the Homes and Communities Agency and its predecessor bodies spent on acquiring surplus public sector land in each of the last five years; and what estimate has been made of the monetary value of such land.

Margaret Beckett: The Homes and Communities Agency and its predecessor bodies have spent about £612 million on acquiring surplus public sector land sites since 2004. A number of the sites have since been sold and the estimated current value of the remaining sites purchased since 2004 that remain in HCA ownership is estimated to be £207 million as at March 2009. More detailed information cannot be provided without disproportionate costs.

Derelict Land

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many surplus public sector land sites were purchased by the Homes and Communities Agency and its predecessor bodies in each of the last five years; and how many hectares of land on each site were purchased.

Margaret Beckett: The Homes and Communities Agency and its predecessor bodies have purchased around 134 sites covering approximately 2,400 hectares from the public sector over the last five years.

Derelict Land: Property Development

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government 
	(1)  how many of the sites currently on the Homes and Communities Agency's Register of Surplus Public Sector Land have been assessed as suitable for residential property development; and if she will make a statement;
	(2)  how many sites on the Homes and Communities Agency's Register of Surplus Public Sector Land have been on the register for more than  (a) six months,  (b) one year and  (c) two years.

Margaret Beckett: Nearly 200 sites of the 704 currently on the Register of Surplus Public Sector Land have been assessed as suitable for residential development subject to planning approval being granted. Sites are assessed for their development potential when their details are first entered onto the Register.
	The Register is a snapshot of current activity and sites are continually being added and removed by the responsible landowning department. Sites are often added to the Register a number of years before they become vacant and available for sale so that prospective buyers have early notification of their availability. Currently there are 704 sites on the Register. Of those 704 sites  (a) 46 have been on the Register for less than six months  (b) 89 sites between six months and one year  (c) 164 sites between one and two years and  (d) 405 sites longer than two years.

Economic Situation

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Welwyn Hatfield of 2 April 2009,  Official Report, columns 1498-502W, on departmental conferences, if she will place in the Library a copy of the presentations and handouts produced for the Homeowners Mortgage Support Scheme workshop on 5 February 2009.

Iain Wright: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to her on 7 May 2009,  Official Report, column 387W.

Energy Performance Certificates

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer of 5 May 2009,  Official Report, column 128W, on energy performance certificates, how many complaints have been received from prospective tenants of  (a) social and  (b) private accommodation about a landlord failing to provide an energy performance certificate in each month since the entry into force of the provisions of the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive.

Margaret Beckett: Enforcement of the Energy Performance of Buildings (Certificates and Inspections) England and Wales) Regulations 2007 is the responsibility of local weights and measures authorities. There is no requirement for the Department to be informed when they receive a complaint.

Energy Performance Certificates

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer of 5 May 2009,  Official Report, column 128W, on energy performance certificates, how many fixed penalties for failure to supply an energy performance certificate have been issued to landlords in the  (a) private and  (b) social sector.

Margaret Beckett: Penalty notices are issued by local weights and measures authorities who are empowered to enforce the Energy Performance of Buildings (Certificates and Inspections) (England and Wales) Regulations 2007. There is no requirement for the Department to be informed when a penalty charge notice is issued.

Energy Performance Certificates

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether she plans to review the fees charged for adding an entry to the register of energy display certificates.

Margaret Beckett: The contract between CLG and Landmark Information Group Limited for operating the non-domestic energy performance certificate (EPC) and display energy certificate (DEC) register makes provision for the lodgement fees to be reviewed at prescribed intervals. The first opportunity to review the fee structure for lodging EPCs and DECs on the non-domestic register arose in March of this year, at which time it was agreed that there was no need for a change in the fee. The next opportunity to review fees for the non-domestic register will arise in March 2012 and subsequently every three years thereafter.

Home Information Packs

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many accredited providers of home information packs there were in each of the last three years.

Margaret Beckett: There are no accreditation schemes for providers of home information packs.

Home Information Packs

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the completion date was of the most recent independent research commissioned by her Department to evaluate the effect of home information packs on the housing market.

Margaret Beckett: Independent research into the impact of home information packs (HIPs) was undertaken by Europe Economics and published on 22 November 2007.

Home Information Packs

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if she will make it her policy to limit the maximum cost to consumers of home information packs.

Margaret Beckett: The cost of a home information pack (HIP) is set by the market and the Government have no role in this.

Homebuy Scheme

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the average income of a tenant purchasing under the Social Homebuy Scheme was in each of the last five years.

Iain Wright: The following table shows the average household income of tenants who have purchased under the Social HomeBuy scheme in England, by year.
	
		
			  Average household income 
			   £ 
			 2006-07 23,430 
			 2007-08 23,410 
			  Source: CORE (Continuous Recording) returns from registered social landlords to the Tenant Services Authority (TSA). 
		
	
	The Social HomeBuy (SHB) scheme was introduced in April 2006, so there are no Social HomeBuy sales before 2006-07. 2008-09 figures are not yet available from CORE.
	The household income figures are calculated from the "monthly take home pay" figures, which are based on net earnings from any paid work. These figures do not include income from benefits such as income support, child benefit, child tax credit, or any payments received from the Child Support Agency (CSA).

Homes and Communities Agency: Finance

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what percentage of the assets sale receipts of the Homes and Communities Agency and its predecessor bodies were  (a) retained by the body concerned,  (b) remitted to her Department and  (c) remitted to HM Treasury in each of the last five years.

Margaret Beckett: The predecessor bodies for the Homes and Communities Agency were English Partnerships, the investment arm of the Housing Corporation, and the Academy for Sustainable Communities. A range of departmental programmes also transferred to the agency from Communities and Local Government.
	The Homes and Communities Agency has retained all of its receipts generated from the sale of development assets. These receipts have been used to fund the agency's property and regeneration programme.
	The Housing Corporation and the Academy for Sustainable Communities did not dispose of any development assets.
	The former English Partnerships consisted of the Commission for New Towns (CNT) and the Urban Regeneration Agency (URA). The URA retained all of its receipts generated from the sale of development assets, for use in funding the agency's programme. A total of £345 million of receipts from the CNT's sale of land was remitted to HM Treasury in 2008-09 in connection with the close down of the CNT and the launch of the HCA. It is not possible to disaggregate the proportion of these receipts that relate to the last five years without incurring disproportionate cost.

Homes and Communities Agency: Finance

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government on how many occasions her Department has been contacted by the Homes and Communities Agency and its predecessor bodies about the writing-off of losses in excess of the delegated limits set out in its financial memorandum in each of the last three years; and if she will make a statement.

Margaret Beckett: The predecessor bodies for the Homes and Communities Agency were English Partnerships, the investment arm of the Housing Corporation, and the Academy for Sustainable Communities. A range of departmental programmes also transferred to the Agency from Communities and Local Government.
	The Homes and Communities Agency has not written-off any losses in excess of the delegated limits. The write-off of losses in excess of the delegated limit for English Partnerships and the Housing Corporation can be found in their published Annual Report and Accounts, copies of which are available in the Library of the House. The Academy for Sustainable Communities did not write off any losses in excess of the delegated limits.

Homes and Communities Agency: Finance

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer of 5 May 2009,  Official Report, column 133W, on housing: low incomes, 
	(1)  how much has been repaid to the Homes and Communities Agency in grants as a result of investment partners who are not registered social landlords seeking to sell a property outside the affordable housing sector in each of the last three years;
	(2)  how many homes  (a) in the social sector and  (b) owned by investment partners who are not registered social landlords which were initially intended for low cost home ownership have subsequently been removed from the affordable housing sector in each region;
	(3)  how many requests the Homes and Communities Agency and its predecessors received to sell properties outside the affordable housing sector from investment partners who are not registered social landlords in each of the last three years; and how many requests were granted.

Margaret Beckett: In the last three years no grant has been repaid to the Homes and Communities Agency as a result of non-registered social landlord investment partners seeking to sell a property outside the affordable housing sector.
	In each region no homes owned by investment partners who are not registered social landlords have subsequently been removed from the affordable housing sector.
	No requests have been received by the Homes and Communities Agency to sell properties outside of the affordable sector from non-registered social landlord investment partners in the last three years.

Homes and Communities Agency: Location

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what equality impact assessments the Homes and Communities Agency has carried out on its options for relocation; and what consultation with staff and other stakeholders it has held on these options.

Margaret Beckett: As a public body, the Homes and Community Agency has conducted an equality impact assessment (EIA) screening on the proposals for restructuring and location; a full EIA is in the process of finalisation and will be published in due course. The impact assessment addresses the equality duty areas of race, gender and disability—in addition to considering the equality strands of religion, sexual orientation and age.
	In completing the EIA, the HCA has taken account of consultation with staff and best practice knowledge, in order fully to consider the impact of its decisions on equality outcomes. The HCA is in the process of evaluating feedback from its most recent consultation exercise and this information will inform the full EIA which will be published on the HCA website.
	Staff and staff representatives were initially consulted on the proposals for changes in Regional office accommodation on 11 February 2009. This period of initial consultation lasted for one month. Firm proposals were then circulated to staff representatives and staff, for consultation, on 1 April 2009. This further period of consultation also lasted one month and during this time, Regional Directors have been holding group and one to one discussions with staff.
	The HCA has also, in recent months, had a number of discussions with stakeholder partners about the options for relocation including my Department, Regional Development Agencies and local authorities.

Homes and Communities Agency: Public Relations

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Welwyn Hatfield of 2 April 2009,  Official Report, column 1505W, on the Homes and Communities Agency, which public affairs firms the Tenant Services Authority engaged; what the  (a) duration and  (b) monetary value of each contract is; and if she will place in the Library a copy of the (i) brief and (ii) contract for each item of work.

Margaret Beckett: The TSA engaged the public affairs company APCO to provide help in developing the core narrative and key messages of the TSA through work in the political environment and to engage key stakeholders to gain buy in and understanding of, and to test, the aforementioned. The brief was also to campaign with politicians to raise awareness of the TSA.
	 (a) APCO were initially employed from August 2008 to February 2009. An additional three months' work was then agreed, to a reduced specification.
	 (b) The fee for the initial project was a retainer of £9,500 per month for a period of seven months between August 2008 and February 2009, totalling £76,000. The additional three-month contract was for time spent up to the value of £1,500 per month.
	(i) and (ii) I intend to place a copy of the briefs and contract in the Library once we have obtained agreement from APCO and removed any commercially sensitive information.

Housing

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the cost to her Department of the Working Group on Condition Information in the Home Buying and Selling Process has been.

Margaret Beckett: The cost of establishing and supporting the Working Group on Condition Information in the Home Buying and Selling Process is approximately 25 per cent. of an official's time and has been met as part of the normal working arrangements of the Department from within existing budgets.

Housing: Construction

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many homes have been built in each millennium community to date.

Margaret Beckett: The number of houses which have been built in millennium communities since the programme began in 1997 to date are:
	
		
			  Millennium community  Completed homes 
			 Greenwich Millennium Village 1,099 
			 New Islington 179 
			 Allerton Bywater 172 
			 Kings Lynn 109 
			 Telford 53 
			 Hastings 0 
			 Oakgrove 14 
			 Total 1626

Housing: Construction

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many homes have been built on surplus public sector land in each of the last five years; and what estimate has been made of the number which will be built on such land in each of the next three years.

Margaret Beckett: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by the Under-Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, my hon. Friend the Member for Hartlepool (Mr. Wright) on 23 March 2009,  Official Report, columns 69-70W. However to clarify, the purpose of the Register of Surplus Public Sector Land is to record sites for disposal that have been identified as surplus, vacant or under-used by Government Departments and their agencies which can be used for redevelopment including housing.
	Information on the number of homes built on public sector land since 2004 is not held centrally as the Register does not capture such details. However, the Homes and Communities Agency estimates that since 2004 some 19,000 homes may have been built on sites formerly owned by the public sector. The cost of providing a more accurate figure would be disproportionate. This estimate will include a proportion of the 59,505 homes built since 1997, referred to in the previous answer of 23 March 2009. I should remind the hon. Member that these figures are likely to under-represent the number of homes built on land formerly owned by Government bodies.
	Our latest estimate, as at January 2009, is that about 51,000 homes could be built on public sector sites in the next three years. This will be subject to sites remaining surplus or underused and planning approval being obtained. This forecast is under review and may reduce in the future to reflect the challenging market conditions.

Housing: Empty Property

Karen Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what estimate she has made of the number of empty dwellings in each London local authority area in each tenure group; and what the percentage change was in the equivalent figures between 2002-03 and 2007-08.

Iain Wright: The table shows estimates made of the number of empty dwellings in each London local authority area in each tenure group; and the percentage change in the equivalent figures between 2002-03 and 2007-08.
	
		
			  Estimates of the number of empty dwellings in each London local authority area in each tenure group; and the percentage change in the equivalent figures between 2002-03 and 2007-08 
			   2008 
			   Local authority  Registered social landlords  Private enterprise  Total 
			   Number of vacan t s  LA vacants as a percentage of LA stock  Number of vacan t s  LA vacants as a percentage of LA stock  Number of vacan t s  LA vacants as a percentage of LA stock  Number of vacan t s  LA vacants as a percentage of LA stock 
			 London 9,500 2.2 4,930 1.4 71,490 2.2 85,920 2.6 
			 Barking and Dagenham 516 2.7 52 1.5 1,082 2.3 1,650 2.4 
			 Barnet 103 0.9 41 0.6 3,892 3.3 4,036 3.0 
			 Bexley 0 0.0 156 1.3 1,967 2.4 2,123 2.3 
			 Brent 152 1.6 317 2.2 1,802 2.2 2,271 2.1 
			 Bromley 0 0.0 319 1.8 3,298 2.9 3,617 2.7 
			 Camden 308 1.3 123 1.3 2,464 3.8 2,895 2.9 
			 City of London 3 0.7 1 0.3 94 1.8 98 1.7 
			 Croydon 163 1.2 168 1.7 3,268 2.8 3,599 2.5 
			 Ealing 407 3.0 155 1.7 2,515 2.4 3,077 2.5 
			 Enfield 287 2.5 70 1.1 2,177 2.1 2,534 2.1 
			 Greenwich 629 2.6 190 2.0 2,585 3.9 3,404 3.4 
			 Hackney 1,139 4.8 250 1.4 1,947 3.6 3,336 3.5 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 325 2.5 182 1.5 1,626 3.0 1,734 2.2 
			 Haringey 188 1.2 267 2.7 2,334 3.1 2,789 2.8 
			 Harrow 34 0.7 52 1.5 657 0.9 743 0.9 
			 Havering 442 4.2 55 2.2 1,970 2.3 2,467 2.5 
			 Hillingdon 124 1.2 109 1.9 1,711 2.0 1,944 1.9 
			 Hounslow 271 2.1 54 0.9 1,181 1.6 1,506 1.6 
			 Islington 203 0.8 350 2.5 1,145 2.2 1,698 1.8 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 56 0.8 159 1.2 3,181 4.8 3,396 3.9 
			 Kingston upon Thames 50 1.0 23 1.1 2,110 3.7 2,183 3.4 
			 Lambeth 1,058 3.9 287 1.4 2,435 3.0 3,780 2.9 
			 Lewisham 126 0.6 163 1.0 1,746 2.2 2,035 1.8 
			 Merton 87 1.4 26 0.5 1,618 2.4 1,731 2.2 
			 Newham 698 3.9 131 1.1 3,262 4.6 4,091 4.1 
			 Redbridge 185 3.9 39 0.9 2,129 2.4 2,353 2.4 
			 Richmond upon Thames 5 10.0 124 1.3 1,685 2.4 1,814 2.3 
			 Southwark 1,054 2.6 165 1.2 1,501 2.2 2,720 2.2 
			 Sutton 83 1.2 35 0.9 2,256 3.3 2,374 3.0 
			 Tower Hamlets 222 1.7 418 1.6 2,308 3.9 2,948 3.0 
			 Waltham Forest 168 1.6 187 1.8 3,341 4.4 3,696 3.8 
			 Wandsworth 179 1.0 86 0.9 2,853 2.8 3,118 2.4 
			 Westminster 238 1.9 177 1.2 3,749 4.1 4,164 3.5 
		
	
	
		
			   Percentage change in vacants between 2003 and 2008 
			   Local authority  Registered social landlords  Private enterprise  Total 
			 London -4.2 -23.1 -12.2 -12.1 
			 Barking and Dagenham 9.3 -40.2 -18.4 -8.2 
			 Barnet 13.2 -64.0 13.8 14.9 
			 Bexley (1)— -17.5 -13.3 -6.4 
			 Brent -8.4 -7.8 -29.8 -16.9 
			 Bromley (1)— -9.9 -21.6 -14.0 
			 Camden -6.7 -30.9 -19.5 -14.6 
			 City of London (1)— (2)— -33.3 -30.5 
			 Croydon 16.4 -10.2 -28.7 -23.8 
			 Ealing 88.4 3.3 -18.7 -7.0 
			 Enfield -20.3 -68.2 -32.3 -29.2 
			 Greenwich 20.7 -5.9 7.7 16.5 
			 Hackney 70.8 -66.4 -23.7 3.6 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham -4.1 -35.9 19.2 25.2 
			 Haringey -16.8 50.0 -29.6 -21.2 
			 Harrow -50.7 -16.1 -72.5 -69.8 
			 Havering 16.0 400.0 -2.8 2.5 
			 Hillingdon -23.0 38.0 -39.9 -35.4 
			 Hounslow -42.7 -50.9 -19.1 -22.0 
			 Islington -51.4 12.9 -68.2 -57.8 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 51.4 -30.9 -2.8 2.7 
			 Kingston upon Thames -35.1 -30.3 -6.5 -6.4 
			 Lambeth 37.8 -39.3 -43.0 -25.0 
			 Lewisham -86.1 19.0 -19.9 -34.0 
			 Merton 52.6 -53.6 -36.2 -33.2 
			 Newham 23.1 -29.9 65.8 61.4 
			 Redbridge 52.9 -51.9 -11.7 -7.1 
			 Richmond upon Thames (1)— -38.9 -45.4 -41.2 
			 Southwark 9.1 -26.7 -62.5 -45.3 
			 Sutton -4.6 -5.4 5.1 6.3 
			 Tower Hamlets -66.1 79.4 14.5 10.5 
			 Waltham Forest 64.7 19.1 63.6 72.4 
			 Wandsworth -40.1 -58.0 (2)— (2)— 
			 Westminster -4.4 -49.9 -12.7 -8.4 
			 (1) Large Scale Voluntary Transfer (2) Not reported in 2003  Notes: Figures for registered social landlords are for self-contained general needs units only.  Sources: Council Taxbase and Council Taxbase Supplementary (CTB1 and CTB1S) returns from local authorities for 3 November 2003 and 6 October 2008; Housing Strategy Statistical Appendix (HSSA) submitted to Communities and Local Government by local authorities for 1 April 2003, 2008; Regulatory Statistical Return (RSR) as reported to the Housing Corporation by registered social landlords for 31 March 2003, 2008.

Housing: Low Incomes

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the average annual income of a household taking part in each of the HomeBuy schemes has been in each region in the last 12 months.

Margaret Beckett: The following table shows the average household income of households purchasing under HomeBuy schemes in England in 2007-08, by region.
	
		
			  Average household income 
			  £ 
			  Region  New build HomeBuy  Open market HomeBuy  Social HomeBuy  All HomeBuy schemes 
			 North East 16,360 14,120 (1)— 16,080 
			 North West 15,250 17,620 18,650 15,450 
			 Yorkshire and Humberside 14,750 19,360 (1)— 15,600 
			 East Midlands 16,010 22,220 (1)— 16,580 
			 West Midlands 16,550 20,060 n/a 16,810 
			 Eastern 20,550 25,340 (1)— 22,160 
			 London 24,010 25,010 30,400 24,180 
			 South East 19,620 27,480 19,300 21,250 
			 South West 18,260 22,480 20,230 18,980 
			 England 19,760 25,050 23,410 20,590 
			 n/a = Not available due to small sample size of less than 5. (1) No sales.  Source: CORE (Continuous Recording) returns from Registered Social Landlords to the Tenant Services Authority (TSA). 
		
	
	The figures do not include sales through HomeBuy Direct or Rent to HomeBuy, which commenced in 2008-09.
	The household income figures are calculated from the "monthly take home pay" figures, which are based on net earnings from any paid work. These figures do not include income from benefits such as income support, child benefit, child tax credit, or any payments received from the Child Support Agency (CSA).

Housing: Low Incomes

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the average price of a property purchased under each of the HomeBuy schemes has been in each region in the last 12 months.

Margaret Beckett: The following table shows the average price of a property purchased under HomeBuy schemes in England in 2007-08, by region.
	
		
			  A verage property price 
			  £ 
			  Region  New build HomeBuy  Open market HomeBuy  Social HomeBuy  All HomeBuy schemes 
			 North East 135,090 111,870 n/a 130,940 
			 North West 132,560 121,210 82,470 129,900 
			 Yorkshire and Humberside 125,100 142,850 n/a 127,440 
			 East Midlands 128,070 130,850 n/a 128,190 
			 West Midlands 141,230 125,240 135,100 140,130 
			 Eastern 166,490 154,430 n/a 162,650 
			 London 221,080 189,990 227,860 218,440 
			 South East 173,840 172,930 153,910 173,520 
			 South West 154,730 149,810 145,580 153,710 
			 England 174,610 163,910 155,860 172,870 
			 n/a = Not available due to small sample size of less than 5.  Source: CORE (Continuous Recording) returns from Registered Social Landlords to the Tenant Services Authority (TSA). 
		
	
	The figures do not include sales through HomeBuy Direct or Rent to HomeBuy, which commenced in 2008-09.
	The property price figures are based on the total property price, not the amount paid by the purchaser, which could be to purchase a share of the equity in the property.

Housing: Low Incomes

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the average level of support has been under each of the HomeBuy schemes in each region.

Margaret Beckett: For 2008-09 provisional figures showing the average amount of grant per unit paid through the Homes and Communities Agency's Affordable Housing Programme for each of the HomeBuy schemes in each region are set out in the following table.
	
		
			  Average level of grant per completed unit 
			  £ 
			  English region  New build HomeBuy  Open market HomeBuy  Social HomeBuy  Rent to Home B uy 
			 North East 21,590 22,610 9,000 38,810 
			 North West 26,400 23,670 8,900 44,930 
			 Yorkshire and Humberside 29,520 24,420 9,000 38,320 
			 East Midlands 15,650 24,680 — 22,220 
			 West Midlands 20,810 23,760 7,580 21,160 
			 Eastern 18,240 31,930 13,500 38,770 
			 London 42,650 48,490 12,160 56,320 
			 South East 20,740 32,420 11,650 29,200 
			 South West 14,420 28,620 — 33,690 
			 England 23,340 28,960 7,980 35,940 
			  Source: Homes and Communities Agency's Investment Management System 
		
	
	Provisional figures indicate that there have been no homes completed under the HomeBuy Direct scheme in 2008-09.

Housing: Low Incomes

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many  (a) first-time and  (b) key worker buyers have purchased a share of a property via (i) HomeBuy Direct, (ii) OwnHome, (iii) OpenMarket HomeBuy, (iv) the First-Time Buyers Initiative, (v) MyChoice HomeBuy, (vi) New Build HomeBuy, (vii) Social HomeBuy and (viii) Rent to HomeBuy since the inception of each scheme.

Margaret Beckett: The following is a breakdown of purchases from 1 April 2006 to 31 March 2009:
	
		
			  Number 
			  Schemes  Total purchases  Of which :  key workers 
			 Open Market Homebuy 11,165 4,117 
			  O f which:   
			 Own Home 799 260 
			 MyChoice 3,123 1,026 
			 New Build Homebuy 36,544 4,159 
			 First Time Buyers Initiative 1,867 291 
		
	
	In addition there have been 306 purchases under Social HomeBuy but we do not collect data on key worker status for Social HomeBuy.
	For New Build HomeBuy the table shows completions. Key worker figures are derived from the homes completed in specific Key Worker initiative schemes. It is possible that key workers have also bought homes on standard New Build HomeBuy schemes.
	For HomeBuy Direct I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 27 April 2009,  Official Report, column 1119W.
	There have been no purchases under the Rent to HomeBuy scheme, which became operational in July 2008, and enables potential purchasers to rent a home for up to five years before buying a share.

Housing: Low Incomes

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the average annual income was of a tenant purchasing a  (a) registered social landlord and  (b) local authority property in each region in each of the last five years.

Iain Wright: The Department does not collect information on the income of tenants purchasing local authority property.
	For average household income of tenants purchasing registered social landlord properties through HomeBuy schemes, I refer the hon. Member to the answer given today (PQ 272225).

Housing: Low Incomes

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the average price paid by a tenant purchasing a  (a) registered social landlord and  (b) local authority property was in each region in each of the last five years.

Iain Wright: The following table shows the average price paid by a tenant purchasing a local authority property under the right to buy scheme in England from 2003-04 to 2007-08, by region.
	
		
			   Average price paid (£) 
			  Region  2003-04  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07  2007-08 
			 North East 20,270 36,020 40,270 45,980 54,140 
			 North West 25,510 30,740 39,630 48,230 53,630 
			 Yorkshire and Humberside 24,100 30,990 41,650 50,280 61,110 
			 East Midlands 35,500 42,540 50,930 60,760 62,970 
			 West Midlands 33,480 46,720 51,960 58,800 60,850 
			 Eastern 58,390 67,170 78,640 87,770 103,160 
			 London 80,570 91,120 107,620 125,960 141,260 
			 South East 67,670 77,510 86,960 92,900 102,830 
			 South West 50,670 56,620 64,790 76,630 79,830 
			 England 42,200 51,520 57,910 67,800 78,130 
			  Source:  P1B returns from local authorities to Communities and local Government (CLG). 
		
	
	For the average price paid for registered social landlord properties purchased through HomeBuy schemes, I refer the hon. Member to the answer given today, (PQ 272226).
	The average price paid figures are the amount paid by the purchaser which could be less than the total purchase price of the property as usually a share of the equity in the property is purchased.

Housing: Low Incomes

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many social homes have been empty for more than six months in each region in England.

Iain Wright: The term "social homes" has been interpreted as social rented dwellings let by local authorities or registered social landlords.
	Estimates of the number of social sector domestic dwellings empty for more than six months in each region in England are shown in the following table.
	
		
			  Number of dwellings vacant for more than six months as at April 2008 
			   Local authority  Registered social landlord 
			 North East 1,217 2,507 
			 North West 1,788 4,279 
			 Yorkshire and the Humber 2,065 1,583 
			 East Midlands 533 542 
			 West Midlands 912 2,169 
			 East 712 631 
			 London 5,010 2,962 
			 South East 856 1,209 
			 South West 379 859 
			 England 12,895 16,741 
			  Sources: Housing Strategy Statistical Appendix (HSSA) and Business Plan Statistical Appendix (BPSA) submitted to Communities and Local Government by local authorities; Regulatory Statistical Return (RSR) as reported to the Housing Corporation by registered social landlords. 
		
	
	Figures for registered social landlords are for self-contained general needs units only and are vacant properties reported as not being available for letting. Not available for letting has been taken as a proxy for properties vacant for six months or longer as this enables the data to be presented at a regional level. Of the total number of RSL properties that have been vacant for at least six months at 31 March 2008, 90 per cent. were recorded as not available for letting.

Housing: Low Incomes

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what targets her Department has set for take up of each Homebuy scheme.

Margaret Beckett: We have not set individual targets for each HomeBuy scheme to ensure flexibility within the Homes and Communities Agency's Affordable Housing programme 2008-11.

Housing: Low Incomes

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how frequently local authorities are expected to carry out valuations on social dwellings in relation to  (a) Right to Buy and  (b) Social Homebuy purchase prices.

Margaret Beckett: Local authorities are required to provide a valuation when a tenant applies to purchase their home under the Right to Buy or Social HomeBuy schemes. In the case of Social HomeBuy, they must do so when a tenant applies to purchase an initial share and when they subsequently apply to purchase an additional share.

Housing: Low Incomes

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government 
	(1)  what proportion of  (a) local authorities and  (b) registered social landlords participate in the (i) Social Homebuy, (ii) Right to Buy and (iii) Right to Acquire schemes;
	(2)  what proportion of  (a) local authorities and  (b) registered social landlords participated in the (i) Social Homebuy, (ii) Right to Buy and (iii) Right to Acquire schemes in each year since 1997.

Margaret Beckett: Landlords are not free to choose whether or not to participate in the Right to Buy or Right to Acquire schemes. If an eligible tenant applies to purchase under either scheme, and meets the scheme's criteria, the landlord is obliged to sell.
	The Right to Buy is available to secure tenants of local authorities and registered social landlords and to those assured tenants of registered social landlords who held secure tenancies at the time their homes were transferred from a local authority to a registered social landlord as part of a large scale voluntary stock transfer.
	The Right to Acquire is available to tenants of registered social landlords who live in a qualifying property.
	For the position on Social Homebuy, I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 6 May 2009,  Official Report, column 241W.

Housing: Low Incomes

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many properties were purchased under the  (a) Right to Buy,  (b) Right to Acquire and  (c) Social Homebuy schemes in each local authority area in each year since 1997.

Margaret Beckett: A table showing the number of local authority Right to Buy sales, Right to Acquire sales, and Social HomeBuy sales by local authority for each year from 1997-98 has been sent to the House Library.
	 Data source
	Homes and Communities Agency Investment Management System (IMS), and quarterly PIB returns from local authorities to CLG

Housing: Low Incomes

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer of 5 May 2009,  Official Report, column 133W, on housing: low incomes, what calculation is used to decide how much is paid back by an investment partner who is not a registered social landlord who is seeking to sell a property outside the affordable housing sector.

Margaret Beckett: The majority of non-registered social landlords developing affordable housing enter into an "Agreed Transfer" grant agreement with the Homes and Communities Agency whereby grant is paid on condition that the ownership of the completed units is transferred to a registered social landlord.
	A small number of non-registered social landlord investment partners developing affordable housing enter into a "Retention Model" grant agreement with the Homes and Communities Agency whereby grant is paid on the condition that they retain the ownership of the developed units and manage these within the affordable housing sector. The grant is secured by a rent charge registered against the freehold title of the affordable units and the non-registered social landlord partner would have to seek the Homes and Communities Agency's consent to sell the units.
	If the non-registered social landlord investment partner sought to sell a unit outside of the affordable housing sector there would be an element of grant recovery. Where applicable, any increase in value would be recovered.

Housing: Low Incomes

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer of 5 May 2009,  Official Report, column 133W, on housing: low incomes, how much has been recycled in grants as a result of registered social landlords gaining section 9 consent to dispose in each of the last three years.

Margaret Beckett: According to the annual returns received from registered social landlords the following amounts have been credited to the organisations' Recycled Capital Grant Fund. Figures for 2008-09 are not yet available.
	
		
			   Total (£ million) 
			 2005-06 29.26 
			 2006-07 38.73 
			 2007-08 34.13

Housing: Low Incomes

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many buyers participating in the  (a) HomeBuy Direct,  (b) OwnHome,  (c) OpenMarket HomeBuy,  (d) the First Time Buyers Initiative,  (e) MyChoice HomeBuy,  (f) New Build HomeBuy,  (g) Social HomeBuy and  (h) Rent to HomeBuy schemes have increased their shares in the home subsequent to their initial purchase.

Margaret Beckett: Only New Build HomeBuy, Social HomeBuy and Rent to HomeBuy involve the purchase of a property through shares. Information on the number of buyers who have purchased subsequent shares to the initial purchase is not collected centrally.

Housing: Low Incomes

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government when she expects to be able to publish data on HomeBuy Direct sales.

Margaret Beckett: We expect to publish completions data on the new supply of affordable housing, including low cost home ownership, in December. The data will include HomeBuy Direct.

Housing: Low Incomes

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what data her Department holds on HomeBuy Direct sales; and if she will make a statement.

Margaret Beckett: The Department for Communities and Local Government does not hold data on HomeBuy Direct sales. The Homes and Communities Agency collects data on HomeBuy Direct sales to enable them to manage the Affordable Housing investment programme.

Housing: Low Incomes

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many Rent to Homebuy providers there are in each region.

Margaret Beckett: The following table shows the current number of Rent to HomeBuy providers by region.
	
		
			  Region  Number of providers 
			 East Midlands 11 
			 Eastern 10 
			 London 13 
			 North East 2 
			 North West 7 
			 South East 11 
			 South West 8 
			 West Midlands 5 
			 Yorkshire and the Humber 6 
			 Total 73

Housing: Low Incomes

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many applications for support under the Rent to Homebuy scheme have been received in each year since the scheme was established.

Margaret Beckett: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 26 March 2009,  Official Report, columns 719-720W.

Housing: Low Incomes

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government 
	(1)  how much funding will be available for the Rent to Homebuy scheme in each of the next three years;
	(2)  how much has been spent on Rent to Homebuy in each of the last three years.

Margaret Beckett: We have not allocated specific funds in 2009-10 and 2010-11 for homebuy products, including rent to homebuy so as to allow full flexibility within the National Affordable Housing programme operated by the Homes and Communities Agency. Future estimates levels of expenditure beyond 2010-11 will be dependent upon the next spending review.
	Rent to homebuy was launched in July 2008, and the provisional figure from the Homes and Communities Agency for expenditure in 2008-09 is £88 million.

Housing: Regeneration

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what events have been held as part of the Homes and Communities Agency's Single Conversation.

Margaret Beckett: From September 2008 to November 2008, the HCA implementation team ran a series of seminars which included sessions on the Single Conversation. There were a total of 10 events (nine regional and one national) in this period.
	Since 1 December HCA regional teams have continued to engage with local authorities on the Single Conversation but there have been no further HCA-led events with this specific aim.
	As the Single Conversation is the HCA's main business process, whenever HCA representatives speak at events and conferences organised by other bodies, they use the opportunity to communicate with stakeholders the HCA's approach to and progress on implementing the Single Conversation.

Housing: Regeneration

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government 
	(1)  what the budget of the Homes and Communities Agency's Single Conversation is in 2009-10;
	(2)  how many local authorities have taken part in the Home and Communities Agency's Single Conversation to date.

Margaret Beckett: There is no separate budget for the delivery of the Single Conversation.
	The Single Conversation is being introduced via a phased approach. The target is a Single Conversation being initiated in half of the local authorities within each region by April 2010 and with all local authorities by April 2011. To date 141 local authorities have begun initial discussions.
	Guidance on the Single Conversation has been published on the 12 May and is available from the HCA website and a copy will be placed in the House of Commons Library.
	http://www.homesandcommunities.co.uk/page.aspx?pointerid=e5bfaf8d846a437d87ae0214b5e214fc

Housing: Sales

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the average market value of a property owned by  (a) a registered social landlord and  (b) a local authority sold to a tenant was in each region in each of the last five years.

Margaret Beckett: holding answer 7 May 2009
	The following table shows the average market value of local authority properties purchased under the Right to Buy scheme in England from 2003-04 to 2007-08, by region.
	
		
			   Average market value(£) 
			  Region  2003-04  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07  2007-08 
			 North East 35,120 54,820 61,380 66,990 75,610 
			 North West 44,980 52,110 63,290 72,810 78,840 
			 Yorkshire and Humberside 42,210 51,240 64,200 73,310 84,860 
			 East Midlands 57,320 64,960 73,850 84,350 86,810 
			 West Midlands 56,070 70,650 77,140 83,850 86,470 
			 Eastern 89,750 99,750 112,020 120,780 136,930 
			 London 117,760 126,610 137,800 147,110 161,960 
			 South East 103,870 114,150 123,570 129,390 139,720 
			 South West 79,100 85,480 94,130 105,930 109,510 
			 England 66,840 77,180 83,460 92,770 103,470 
			  Source:  P1B returns from Local Authorities to Communities and Local Government (CLG). 
		
	
	For the average market value of Registered Social Landlord properties purchased through HomeBuy schemes, I refer the hon. Member to the answer given today, (PQ 272226).
	The market value figures are based on the total property price, not the amount paid by the purchaser, which could be to purchase a share of the equity in the property.

Housing: Standards

Karen Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many dwellings in each London local authority area in each tenure category are deemed to be below the Decent Homes Standard.

Iain Wright: The information requested is provided in the following table. This is drawn from the Business Plan Statistical Appendix—Annual Monitoring data from Local Authorities for 2007-08 and from the Regulatory Statistical Return—Annual Monitoring data from Registered Social Landlords for 2007-08. The decent homes programme also covers non decent homes in the private sector occupied by vulnerable households but we do not have any figures at local authority level.
	
		
			  Number of social homes failing to meet the decent homes standard at 1 April 2008 
			   Local authority housing  RSL housing 
			 Barking and Dagenham 7,708 101 
			 Barnet 2,708 346 
			 Bexley (1)— 1,065 
			 Brent 121 763 
			 Bromley (1)— 3,175 
			 Camden 10,874 658 
			 City of London 668 39 
			 Croydon 1,464 990 
			 Ealing 3,785 411 
			 Enfield 2,641 432 
			 Greenwich 7,359 1,181 
			 Hackney 7,842 983 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 3,316 1,021 
			 Haringey 6,758 869 
			 Harrow 2,323 512 
			 Havering 2,982 157 
			 Hillingdon 23 290 
			 Hounslow 0 563 
			 Islington 9,633 859 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 1,354 1,350 
			 Kingston upon Thames 1,323 76 
			 Lambeth 8,951 3,390 
			 Lewisham 9,870 6,354 
			 Merton 4,002 190 
			 Newham 9,629 515 
			 Redbridge 1,281 183 
			 Richmond upon Thames (1)— 364 
			 Southwark 18,320 1,204 
			 Sutton 2,768 301 
			 Tower Hamlets 6,859 3,774 
			 Waltham Forest 5,576 1,051 
			 Wandsworth 0 1,147 
			 Westminster 0 1,043 
			 (1) Do not own stock.

Lobbying

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if she will prohibit  (a) executive agencies and  (b) non-departmental public bodies sponsored by her Department from spending money on (i) lobbyists and (ii) public affairs agencies.

John Healey: The Department's Executive agencies and NDPBs are required to operate in accordance with "Managing Public Money" and other HM Treasury expenditure rules and guidance.

Mortgages: Government Assistance

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the minimum amount of equity in a property is that a household must hold in order to qualify for the Mortgage Rescue Scheme; and whether the scheme is open to those in negative equity.

Margaret Beckett: There are two options available to eligible households under the Mortgage Rescue Scheme—Shared Equity and Government Mortgage to Rent. Under the Shared Equity option a household must have a minimum of 25 per cent. but no more than 40 per cent. equity in their property to be considered eligible. Under Government Mortgage to Rent, a household must have less than 25 per cent. equity and any negative equity should not exceed the market value of the property by more than 20 per cent.
	It was announced in the Budget 2009 that the mortgage rescue scheme will be expanded to include households in negative equity where their mortgage and secured debts did not total more than 20 per cent. above the market value of their property. This change came into force from 1 May and demonstrates our commitment to keep the scheme under review to reflect market conditions and scheme demand.

Mortgages: Government Assistance

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government on what date details of  (a) the Homeowner Mortgage Support Scheme and  (b) the Mortgage Rescue Scheme were added to the Directgov website; and if she will make a statement.

Margaret Beckett: Details were added to the DirectGov website on the Mortgage Rescue Scheme (MRS) on 16 January 2009 and on Homeowners Mortgage Support (HMS) on 21 April 2009.
	DirectGov is the official Government website for citizens and is designed to provide easy access to information on public services and information, delivered by the UK Government.

Mortgages: Government Assistance

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what rates of interest will be applied by each mortgage lender to mortgages in circumstances where repayments are late under the Homeowner Mortgage Support Scheme.

Margaret Beckett: The rules governing the homeowners mortgage support scheme require lenders to maintain the rate of interest that is contracted with the borrower at the time of entry to the scheme. Before entering the scheme the borrower must seek independent money advice to help establish an affordable level of payment, provided that the borrower can pay at least 30 per cent. of the monthly interest due. This should substantially reduce the risk of late or missed payments. Should the borrower default while on the scheme the standard terms of their mortgage will govern the rate of interest that is applied.

Mortgages: Government Assistance

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether her Department plans to produce an information leaflet on  (a) the Homeowner Mortgage Support Scheme and  (b) the Mortgage Rescue Scheme for dissemination in bank branches.

Margaret Beckett: An information leaflet on Homeowners Mortgage Support is currently available on the DirectGov website and has been distributed to delivery partners, including lenders and money advice agencies, for use in branches at their discretion. An information leaflet on the Mortgage Rescue Scheme is made available by local authorities to households who are likely to be eligible for the scheme during the application process, rather than by the lender. Additional information on both schemes is available on the DirectGov website.
	Advice on the range of support available to homeowners is also available through a National Homelessness Advice Service (NHAS) leaflet "Are you worried about your mortgage?", which is widely available online and through money advice agencies, local authorities and lenders.

Mortgages: Government Assistance

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer of 8 May 2009,  Official Report, columns 451-2W, on mortgages: Government assistance, on how many occasions in which an applicant under the Mortgage Rescue Scheme has been referred to a housing association, the organisation has decided not to purchase the dwelling since the implementation of the scheme; and if she will make a statement.

Margaret Beckett: The Government Mortgage Rescue Scheme has only been operational across the country since 1 January 2009, following successful 'fast tracking' by 80 local authorities in December 2008. The scheme is one part of a comprehensive package of measures to help households at risk of repossession.
	Headline data from the first monitoring returns submitted by local authorities implementing the scheme were published on the CLG website on 30 April 2009 at:
	http://www.communities.gov.uk/housing/housingresearch/housingstatistics/housingstatisticsby/repossessions
	Based on the January-March 2009 monitoring returns, housing associations did not proceed to complete the mortgage rescue process on eight properties during this reporting period—seven due to the property being in negative equity and one because of the property's condition.
	In the Budget 2009 it was announced that the Mortgage Rescue Scheme criteria would be expanded from 1 May to include some eligible households in negative equity. Local authorities are encouraged to reconsider cases previously found ineligible.

Mortgages: Government Assistance

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer of 8 May 2009,  Official Report, columns 451-2W, on mortgages: Government assistance, 
	(1)  when she next expects to publish monthly data on the Mortgage Rescue Scheme;
	(2)  when the data in relation to Live Table 1303 on her Department's website will next be updated.

Margaret Beckett: Headline data for April 2009 from the monitoring returns submitted by local authorities implementing the Government's Mortgage Rescue Scheme are due to be published on the CLG website on Friday 29 May 2009 at:
	http://www.communities.gov.uk/housing/housingresearch/housingstatistics/housingstatisticsby/repossessions
	Similar to the publication of data for January-March 2009 published on 30 April, the published tables will be broken down by Government Office region. Updated data for March 2009 will also be published.

Non-domestic Rates

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if she will make it her policy to collect data on business turnover in order to manage the application of business rates on  (a) independent,  (b) chain and  (c) out-of-town retail outlets.

John Healey: For the purpose of business rates, the Valuation Office Agency may collect data on business turnover in order to determine the rateable value for certain types of properties. These normally include leisure properties, the utilities and some specialist commercial and industrial properties. The Valuation Office Agency do not normally collect turnover information on retail premises.

Non-domestic Rates

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if she will make it her policy to vary business rates according to  (a) region,  (b) local authority and  (c) super output area to encourage business growth in areas of deprivation.

John Healey: We have no plans to change the current system of uniform business rates under which the same multipliers are applied to the rateable value of property in all parts of England, providing certainty to business. However, changes in the relative value of different sectors and regions are reflected in rates bills, as the rateable value of property is based upon annual rental values and reassessed every five years.

Non-domestic Rates

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the written ministerial statement of 31 March 2009,  Official Report, column 48WS, on revenue protection, what proportion of business ratepayers are expected to spread payment of the increases in their business rates.

John Healey: The Government will publish an impact assessment when it tables the regulations implementing the deferral scheme in Parliament. Analysis of the benefits of the scheme for ratepayers will be included in that document.

Non-domestic Rates

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the written ministerial statement of 31 March 2009,  Official Report, column 48WS, on revenue protection, what the estimated cost to the Exchequer is of spreading payment of business rate bills in each of the next three years.

John Healey: The 2010 Financial Statement and Budget report published figures estimating the costs of the scheme over the next three years. These were:
	
		
			   £ million 
			 2009-10 -700 
			 2010-11 +335 
			 2011-12 +320

Pay

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much was spent by  (a) the Tenant Services Authority and  (b) the Homes and Communities Agency and its predecessor bodies on reimbursable staff expenses in each of the last three years.

Margaret Beckett: Please refer to the following table for expenditure incurred by the Tenant Services Authority and the Homes and Communities Agency (and its predecessor bodies) in relation to reimbursable staff expenses.
	The figures contained in the table relate to staff and board members expenses for each of the last three years.
	
		
			  £ 
			   Tenant Services Authority  Homes and Communities Agency  English Partnerships  Academy of Sustainable Communities  Housing Corporation( 1) 
			 2006-07 — — 1,823,000 26,000 491,575. 
			 2007-08 — — 1,896,000 22,000 437,820. 
			 2008-09 81,584 928,000 £,538,000 21,000 287,200. 
			 (1) Housing Corporation expenditure cannot be disaggregated between personnel who transferred to the TSA and those to the HCA. As a result, these are quoted in total.

Prisons: Planning Permission

Jon Cruddas: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what role the Thames Gateway Development Corporation will have in respect of any planning application to build a prison on the Beam Park West site.

Margaret Beckett: Assuming the proposed prison at Beam Park West has a volume of 2,500 square metres or more or covers a site area of more than one hectare, then the London Thames Gateway Development Corporation will have responsibility as planning authority for determining the planning application.

Rent to Homebuy Scheme

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government which registered social landlords took part in the Rent to Homebuy pilot; and what contribution was made by each of them.

Margaret Beckett: All Homes and Communities Agency investment partners are able to bid for grant funding to provide Rent to HomeBuy. Those whose bids have been successful are set out in the following list.
	 List of RSLs participating in rent to Homebuy
	Newlon
	Hastoe
	Notting Hill
	Riverside
	Moat Homes
	Leicester Housing
	Islington and Shoreditch
	Octavia Housing
	Metropolitan Housing Trust
	Devon and Cornwall
	Manchester Methodist
	Tees Valley
	Hightown
	Home Group Limited
	Estuary
	Orbit Housing Group
	Chevin Housing
	West Mercia
	Amicus Group
	Spectrum Housing Group
	Places For People
	Town and Country Housing
	Gallions
	Longhurst Group
	Catalyst Housing Group Ltd.
	Plus Housing Group Ltd.
	Aster
	Sovereign Housing Group Ltd.
	Isos
	Midland Heart
	One Housing Group Ltd.
	London and Quadrant Housing Trust
	Hyde
	Adactus
	Aldwyck
	East Midlands
	Bedfordshire Pilgrim
	Yorkshire Housing
	Southern Housing Group Ltd.
	Circle Anglia
	Sentinel Hal
	Eastern Shires
	A2 South
	Somer Community
	East Thames Group
	Accent Corporate Services
	Knowsley Housing Trust
	Bellway
	Bovis
	Gilliford

Rent to Homebuy Scheme

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many households participating in the Rent to Homebuy scheme have subsequently bought the property; and of those how many used each Homebuy scheme to make their purchase.

Margaret Beckett: The rent to homebuy scheme was introduced in July 2008 to help eligible households benefit from an affordable rent while they save for a deposit for a pre-specified period (up to five years). No households had yet purchased through the scheme.

Right to Buy Scheme

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what estimate she has made of the size of right to buy discounts as a percentage of average social property prices in each year since 1997.

Margaret Beckett: The following table shows the average discount as a percentage of the average market value for all local authority properties sold through the Right to Buy scheme.
	
		
			   Average discount on sales (percentage) 
			 1997-98 49 
			 1998-99 50 
			 1999-2000 48 
			 2000-01 47 
			 2001-02 44 
			 2002-03 41 
			 2003-04 37 
			 2004-05 33 
			 2005-06 31 
			 2006-07 27 
			 2007-08 24 
			  Source: Quarterly P1B returns from local authorities to CLG 
		
	
	CLG do not hold figures on average social property prices, so the figures are taken from the average market value of local authority properties sold through the RTB scheme. Around 80 per cent. of RTB sales in 2007-08 were local authority properties, while 20 per cent. are of properties owned by registered social landlords.

Shelter: Eco-Towns

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government with reference to the answer to the hon. Member for Mid Worcestershire of 25 November 2008,  Official Report, column 1284W, on Shelter: Eco Towns, if she will place in the Library  (a) a copy of the agreement between Shelter and her Department to produce the literature on eco-towns and  (b) the proposal from Shelter received by her Department.

Margaret Beckett: I have placed in the Library a copy of the formal bid for funding that Shelter submitted in July 2008, together with a copy of the updated funding agreement made between Shelter and my Department. This agreement covers the period 1 April 2008 to 31 March 2010 and relates to the production of publications to provide factual information to local people about the housing situation in and around potential eco-town locations.

Social Rented Housing

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer of 5 May 2009,  Official Report, column 133W, on housing: low incomes, how many applications for section 9 consent the Tenant Services Authority has received from registered social landlords since its establishment; and how many applications were granted.

Margaret Beckett: Since establishment to 31 March 2009, the TSA issued 1,124 Section 9 consents; of those 371 were private finance consents and 753 were consents to dispose of land/properties or an interest in land/property and in the same period three applications for Section 9 consent were rejected. In April 2009 the TSA issued 95 Private Finance Section 9 consents and 224 consents for disposal. No applications were rejected in April.

TREASURY

Child Benefit

David Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the cost to the Exchequer of child benefit payments in  (a) 2008-09,  (b) 2009-10 and  (c) 2010-11.

Stephen Timms: The estimated cost to the Exchequer of child benefit payments is given in the following table:
	
		
			  Estimated cost of child benefit 
			   £ billion 
			 2008-09 11.3 
			 2009-10 11.8 
			 2010-11 11.8 
		
	
	The projections are based on indexation of the current first and subsequent child rates of child benefit and projections of the number of children in the UK from the Office for National Statistics.

Child Trust Fund: Plymouth

Linda Gilroy: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many child trust funds have been established for children resident in Plymouth, Sutton constituency.

Ian Pearson: The most recent constituency level statistics on child trust fund accounts were published on 6 November 2008 and can be viewed on the HM Revenue and Customs' website at:
	http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/ctf/cons-stats-oct08.pdf

Crown Estate Commissioners

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Peterborough of 12 March 2009,  Official Report, column 717W, on the Crown Estate Commissioners, for what reasons the Crown Estate has not purchased any voluntary home condition reports.

Angela Eagle: The Crown Estate has not purchased any voluntary home condition reports in respect of residential sales to date because they have received no specific requests for them from would be buyers.

Economic Situation

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether his Department has made an assessment of the effect of the recession on  (a) blue and  (b) white collar workers.

Angela Eagle: The UK labour market has weakened as the economy turned down through 2008. The Workforce Jobs Survey points to manufacturing, distribution and business services as the sectors where the number of jobs has fallen the most. Although the Office for National Statistics does produce estimates of claimant count unemployment by occupational category these do not provide specific estimates of employment of, "blue collar" and "white collar" workers.

Equity Release

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what  (a) research and  (b) investigations the Financial Services Authority has conducted into local authority home appreciation loans.

Ian Pearson: None. Local authority loans do not fall within the FSA's remit. Where a local authority equity loan is combined with a conventional loan from a lender, the FSA would regulate only the lender part, not the local authority part.

European Union

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make an assessment of the effects on the  (a) public purse and  (b) economy of the UK's membership of the EU for the 2009-10 financial year.

Ian Pearson: The Government's latest forecast of UK net expenditure transfers to EC institutions in 2009-10 was published in Table C9 (page 238) of the 2009 Budget (HC 407).
	The Single Market will continue to be a key driver for the UK economy in 2009-10 in particular in moving towards recovery, given the European Union's prominence as the UK's major trading partner.

Excise Duties: Diesel Fuel

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether an impact assessment was produced in relation to the guidelines issued in January 2008 on local authorities using red diesel in agricultural vehicles.

Angela Eagle: An impact assessment on the changes to the schedule of vehicles entitled to use rebated gas oil (red diesel) was published in December 2006, and is available on HMRC's website (www.hmrc.gov.uk). A memorandum of agreement published in January 2008 clarified this legislation in relation to agricultural vehicles.

Financial Institutions: Debt Collection

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the Financial Services Authority has produced guidance for financial institutions on their use of bailiffs to collect unpaid debts.

Ian Pearson: The matter raised in this question is the responsibility of the Financial Services Authority, whose day-to-day operations are independent from Government control and influence. The FSA will respond to the hon. Member directly

Government Departments: National Insurance Contributions

James Gray: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer for what reasons  (a) employees of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and of the Department for International Development deployed overseas pay Class 3 national insurance after 12 months and  (b) military employees deployed overseas pay Class 1 national insurance; and what consideration he has given to equalising their national insurance treatments.

Stephen Timms: Employees of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the Department for International Development deployed overseas, in common with most ordinary employees, are kept in the UK's social security system and pay Class 1 National Insurance by the UK's extensive network of international agreements. However, where they are sent abroad to countries where there are no agreements then they will no longer be entitled to pay Class 1 National Insurance after 52 weeks. After this period they can, if they meet certain residence conditions, choose to protect their UK basic state pension and entitlement to bereavement benefit cover, by paying Class 3 National Insurance.
	There are special rules for certain groups, such as HM Forces that have no choice but to work outside the UK when required. Social security cover is vital as the nature of their work may be hazardous. These rules keep them in the UK Social Security scheme, paying Class 1 National Insurance Contributions towards the full range of social security benefits. Without this, such groups would need potentially expensive private insurance for themselves and their families, or could be left without income replacement when subsequently sick, disabled or unemployed.
	The Government have no plans to change the National Insurance treatments of these two groups when deployed overseas.

Income Support: Mortgages

Sally Keeble: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people have been assisted by the Homeowners Mortgage Support Scheme.

Margaret Beckett: I have been asked to reply.
	Official figures on numbers of households entering HMS will be published later this year. We are working closely with lenders and money advisors to monitor progress and ensure the scheme is working effectively.

Inheritance Tax: Tamworth

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the number of residents of Tamworth constituency who paid inheritance tax in 2008-09 who would have paid inheritance tax if the threshold had been increased to £1 million.

Stephen Timms: Estimated numbers of estates paying inheritance tax are not available at local levels.

Members: Correspondence

Michael Spicer: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he will reply to the letter from the hon. Member for West Worcestershire dated 9 February 2009, on mortgages and interest rates, PQ reference: 1/67151/2009.

Ian Pearson: holding answer 15 May 2009
	 A reply has been sent to the hon. Member.

Members: Correspondence

Paul Goodman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he plans to reply to the letter of 27 November 2008 from the hon. Member for Wycombe concerning his constituent, Armitabh Naik.

Ian Pearson: I have replied to the hon. Member.

Pensions

Jo Swinson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent assessment he has made of the merits of giving pensioners the ability to divide their pension between current income and capital as they wish.

Ian Pearson: holding answer 15 May 2009
	The Government provide generous pensions tax relief to support saving to produce an income in retirement. These generous reliefs include the ability to take up to 25 per cent. of a pension fund as a tax free lump sum. The remainder should be used to produce an income throughout retirement. Where funds are considered small the member may be able to take the whole fund as a lump sum. These rules are regularly reviewed.

Planning Permission

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what planning applications were made by his Department between May 1997 and May 1998; and for what purpose in each case.

Angela Eagle: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 2 February 2009,  Official Report , column 899W, to the hon. Member for Brentwood and Ongar (Mr. Pickles).

Steering Committee on Harmonisation

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will place in the Library a copy of the minutes of the  (a) 47th and  (b) 48th meeting of the Steering Committee on Harmonisation (Practice and Procedure) England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.

Stephen Timms: For minutes of the 47(th) meeting of the Steering Committee on Harmonisation I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 26 November 2008,  Official Report, column 1923W, to the hon. Member for Bromley and Chislehurst (Robert Neill).
	A copy of the minutes of the 48(th) meeting of the Steering Committee has been placed in the Library.

Tax Havens: Crown Dependencies

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assistance the Government offered to each of the Crown Dependencies to facilitate  (a) the completion of tax information exchange agreements and  (b) inclusion in the OECD list of jurisdictions that had substantially implemented the internationally-agreed tax standard before the G20 Meeting in April 2009.

Stephen Timms: The negotiation of tax information exchange agreements with other jurisdictions, including the UK, is essentially a matter for the Crown Dependencies themselves. Such agreements are negotiated under entrustments granted by the UK. The UK offers assistance where appropriate and encourages dialogue between the Crown Dependencies and other countries.
	Inclusion in the OECD list of jurisdictions that have substantially implemented the internationally agreed tax standard is based on assessments carried out by the OECD.

Taxation: Defence Equipment

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much revenue accrued to the Exchequer through taxation on the arms sector in each of the last five years for which figures are available.

Angela Eagle: The information is not available.

Valuation Office

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will place in the Library a copy of the Valuation Office Agency's generic Method of Work Statement.

Stephen Timms: The generic Method of Work Statement will be placed in the Library.

Valuation Office: Cole Layer Trumble

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Peterborough of 10 March 2009,  Official Report, column 262W, on the Valuation Office: Cole Layer Trumble, whether the Valuation Office Agency holds a copy of the original agreement between Cole Layer Trumble and EDS.

Stephen Timms: The Valuation Office Agency does not hold a copy of the agreement.

Valuation Office: Geographical Information Systems

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the  (a) names and  (b) job titles of senior staff of the Valuation Office Agency's installation of a geographical information system working group are; and what the job titles are of junior staff serving on the working group.

Stephen Timms: The Valuation Office Agency (VOA) does not have a geographical information system working group. However, the VOA does have a Project Board that oversees the development of their geographic information system (GIS). Members of the GIS Project Board include the following senior staff of the VOA: Paul Sanderson, Director of Data Strategy and Jon Wrennall, Chief Information Officer. The job titles of other VOA staff who sit on the GIS Project Board include: Business Project Manager; IT Project Manager; IT Business Analyst; Head of Portfolio Delivery; HR Learning Manager.

Valuation: Business Premises

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what the average rental value in pounds per square metre per year for a  (a) type 1,  (b) type 2 and  (c) type 3 office premises was in England, according to Valuation Office Agency records, in the closest period to (i) April 2008 and (ii) April 2003 for which records are held;
	(2)  what the average rental value in pounds per square metre per year for a  (a) type 1,  (b) type 2,  (c) type 3,  (d) type 4 and  (e) type 5 industrial premises was in England according to Valuation Office Agency records in the closest period to (i) April 2008 and (ii) April 2003 for which records are held;
	(3)  what the average rental value in pounds per square metre per year for a  (a) type 1,  (b) type 2 and  (c) type 3 shop premises in England was, according to Valuation Office Agency records, in the closest period to (i) April 2008 and (ii) April 2003 for which records are held.

Stephen Timms: This information is not available and cannot be prepared without disproportionate cost. The Valuation Office Agency's Property Market Reports give average rental values for these categories in a number of different localities. National figures cannot be derived from these reports, as not all localities are included and there is variation in numbers of properties in each of the localities that are included.

HEALTH

Benzodiazepines and Antidepressants

Doug Naysmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many prescriptions of  (a) individual benzodiazepine drugs and  (b) individual anti-depressants were dispensed in the community in 2008.

Dawn Primarolo: The information requested is in the following tables.
	
		
			  Benzodiazepines, British National Formulary chemical name  Items dispensed in 2008 (thousands)( 1) 
			 Alprazolam <0.1 
			 Chlordiazepoxide Hydrochloride 259.2 
			 Clobazam 160.1 
			 Clonazepam 520.8 
			 Diazepam 4,863.1 
			 Flurazepam Hydrochloride <0.1 
			 Loprazolam Mesilate 104.2 
			 Lorazepam 898.6 
			 Lormetazepam 92.0 
			 Midazolam 2.6 
			 Midazolam Hydrochloride 58.9 
			 Midazolam Maleate 5.2 
			 Nitrazepam 1,172.8 
			 Oxazepam 180.0 
			 Temazepam 3,122.2 
			 (1) <0.1 indicates that less than 50 prescriptions were dispensed.  Source:  Prescription Cost Analysis (PCA) system. 
		
	
	
		
			  Anti-depressants, British National Formulary chemical name  Items dispensed in 2008 (thousands)( 1) 
			 Amitriptyline Embonate <0.1 
			 Amitriptyline Hydrochloride 7,208.1 
			 Amoxapine <0.1 
			 Citalopram Hydrobromide 8,992.4 
			 Clomipramine Hydrochloride 362.1 
			 Desipramine Hydrochloride <0.1 
			 Dosulepin Hydrochloride 1,949.2 
			 Doxepin 45.2 
			 Duloxetine Hydrochloride 352.3 
			 Escitalopram 1,271.1 
			 Fluoxetine Hydrochloride 5,034.5 
			 Flupentixol Hydrochloride 191.8 
			 Fluvoxamine Maleate 29.6 
			 Imipramine Hydrochloride 200.9 
			 Isocarboxazid 3.1 
			 Lofepramine Hydrochloride 387.4 
			 Maprotiline Hydrochloride 0.1 
			 Mianserin Hydrochloride 10.1 
			 Mirtazapine 2,437.5 
			 Moclobemide 26.0 
			 Nefazodone Hydrochloride 0.6 
			 Nortriptyline 217.4 
			 Oxitriptan <0.1 
			 Paroxetine Hydrochloride 1,690.4 
			 Phenelzine Sulphate 23.2 
			 Reboxetine 53.7 
			 Sertraline Hydrochloride 2,128.7 
			 Tranylcypromine Sulphate 12.5 
			 Trazodone Hydrochloride 793.4 
			 Trimipramine Maleate 137.4 
			 Tryptophan 11.9 
			 Venlafaxine 2,390.1 
			 (1) <0.1 indicates that less than 50 prescriptions were dispensed.  Source:  Prescription Cost Analysis (PCA) system.

Blood

Stephen Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the likely effect on blood supplies of implementing the recommendations contained within the Archer Report on levels of contaminated blood supplies; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: The Department has given careful consideration to the recommendations contained in Lord Archer's report. We expect to publish the Government response to Lord Archer's report by the end of May.

Bowel Cancer: Screening

Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what programmes his Department has for screening for bowel cancer; what estimates he has made of the cost of operating such programmes in the last 12 months for which figures are available; and how many people were screened for bowel cancer during that period.

Ann Keen: The NHS Bowel Cancer Screening Programme is co-ordinated by NHS Cancer Screening Programmes (NHSCSP) with funding and policy guidance from the Department. The NHSCSP developed the structure of the screening programme, comprising five regional programme hubs responsible for call and recall, laboratory processing of test kits, and the booking of clinic appointments. Each hub links to a number of screening centres within its region responsible for providing colonoscopy services to those with an abnormal screening result.
	The first screening centre commenced operation in July 2006. As at 15 May 2009, there are 47 screening centres in operation across England, covering approximately 83 per cent. of the eligible population. The programme costs £1.40 per head of the total population per year. The structure of the programme has developed as planned and full roll out of the programme across the country is expected by the end of 2009.
	From 27 April 2008 to 26 April 2009, 2,238,193 invitations for bowel screening were sent. For the same period, 2,159,497 kits were issued and 1,277,519 kits were returned.

Dental Services

Clare Short: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 24 April 2009,  Official Report, columns 932-33W, on dental services, what form the consultations referred to took; and when those consultations took place.

Ann Keen: Barry Cockcroft the Chief Dental Officer wrote to all stakeholders quoted in the previous reply with a draft of the General Dental Services (GDS) Statement of Financial Entitlement (SFE) on 2 October 2008. The Department met the British Dental Association (BDA) on 11 November to discuss the proposed changes and incorporated the points raised by the BDA in the GDS SFE, which came into force on 1 April 2009.

Dental Services: Pay

Clare Short: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the Answer of 24 April 2009,  Official Report, column 932W, on dental services, what consultation on the dental services statement of financial entitlement took place subsequent to the publication of the 38th Report of the Review Body on Doctors' and Dentists' Remuneration, Cm 7579.

Ann Keen: Following consultation on the content of the General Dental Services Statement of Financial Entitlements and subsequent to the publication of the 38(th) Report of the Review Body on Doctors' and Dentists' Remuneration, Cm 7579, representatives of the British Dental Association were consulted and agreed the uprated figures at a meeting on 31 March 2009, prior to the signing of the directions.

Drugs: Rehabilitation

Shailesh Vara: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many children under the age of 16 years sought treatment for the effects of cannabis use in  (a) North West Cambridgeshire,  (b) Cambridgeshire,  (c) the East of England and  (d) England in each of the last five years.

Dawn Primarolo: Data on those seeking treatment for drug use are not collected centrally. Data on those in treatment is collected and the following tables give figures for under 16-year-olds in treatment for cannabis, both for primary and adjunctive use, for England only, the East of England and Cambridgeshire. North West Cambridgeshire is not separately identifiable.
	The increase in the numbers of young people in treatment for drugs (primarily cannabis) reflects both the growth in treatment services for young people, and our success in getting more young people into treatment, rather than any increase in the actual incidence of substance misuse.
	
		
			   Primary  Adjunctive 
			  2007-08   
			 England 6,075 2,075 
			 East of England 380 116 
			 Cambridgeshire 23 5 
			
			  2006-07   
			 England 5,372 1,609 
			 East of England 294 103 
			 Cambridgeshire 10 (1)— 
			
			  2005-06   
			 England 4,723 1,128 
			 East of England 194 57 
			 Cambridgeshire 6 (1)— 
			 (1) Used to suppress figures < 5  Notes: 1. If a client starts the year already in treatment, age is taken at 1 April, if they begin treatment during the year, age is taken at triage. 2. Figures are provided for primary use (the substance that brought the client into treatment) and adjunctive use (a substance additional to the primary drug used by the client). 
		
	
	National data capture on under-18s did not begin until April 2005.

Epilepsy

Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make an assessment of the adequacy of arrangements for pre-conception counselling for women with epilepsy.

Ann Keen: Pregnancy should be planned with expert care and support from an epilepsy specialist. Preconception counselling will include discussion of:
	the importance of healthy eating and taking 5mg of folic acid a day;
	the possibility of early screening for foetal abnormalities at nine weeks of pregnancy rather than 12;
	whether to continue to take anti-epileptic drugs; and
	what the risk of the medication is to the baby.
	One of the main reasons to have preconception counselling is to have the best possible treatment. Detailed advice on epilepsy and pregnancy is available on the NHS Choices website at:
	www.nhs.uk/livewell/epilepsy/pages/epilepsyandpregnancy.aspx

Influenza: Vaccination

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his most recent estimate is of the number of units of anti-influenza vaccines other than those prepared against swine influenza which will be available for distribution in the winter of 2009.

Dawn Primarolo: Based on current information, approximately 14 million doses of seasonal influenza vaccine will be available for winter 2009-10, which is similar to the number of doses available last year. This information refers to the United Kingdom.

Khat

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how many  (a) teenagers and  (b) others have been treated by the NHS for addiction to khat in each of the last five years;
	(2)  how many  (a) teenagers and  (b) others were admitted to NHS psychiatric units for mental health disorders associated with khat usage in each of the last 15 years.

Dawn Primarolo: The information requested is not collected centrally.

Maternity Services

Anne Main: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent assessment he has made of the adequacy of the level of provision of maternity services in  (a) St Albans and  (b) England.

Ann Keen: In July 2008, the Healthcare Commission published 'Towards better births, a review of maternity services in England' which assessed the quality, capability and efficiency of maternity services in England.
	In late 2008, an independent review of maternity services in Hertfordshire was carried out by the National Clinical Advisory Team.

NHS: Standards

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how many  (a) independent and  (b) internal investigations into the NHS there have been in the last (i) five years, (ii) two years and (iii) 12 months;
	(2)  how many  (a) independent and  (b) internal investigations into the NHS (i) nationally and (ii) in Leicester have found that an NHS trust has not acted with due care and attention in the last (A) five years, (B) two years and (C) 12 months.

Ann Keen: The information requested is not collected by the Department and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Osteoglophonic Dysplasia

David Clelland: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what medical research his Department has commissioned recently on methods to increase detection rates of development dysplasia of the hip in the first 12 weeks of a baby's life;
	(2)  how many children under the age of 10 years were diagnosed with development dysplasia of the hip in each of the last three years;
	(3)  what the cost to the NHS is of treating children under the age of 12 years with late-diagnosed development dysplasia of the hip.

Ann Keen: The number of children under the age of 10 years who are diagnosed with developmental dysplasia of the hip are not collected centrally.
	Data relating to the specific cost to the national health service of treating children under the age of 12 years with late-diagnosed development dysplasia of the hip are not collected centrally.
	The Department is not currently funding research into dysplasia of the hip in newborn children. However, there has been an Ultrasonography in the diagnosis and management of developmental hip dysplasia trial (UK Hip Trial) conducted at 33 hospitals in the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland by researchers from Oxford and London Universities. This found no significant benefits in costs from screening with ultrasound rather than the Barlow and Ortolani tests used currently.
	The Medical Research Council, one of the main agencies through which the Government support medical and clinical research, although not currently funding any research directly relating to developmental dysplasia of the hip, is funding the UK resource of new models of bone and mineral disorders, a £1.86 million research project, which may lead to further understanding of the condition.

Starthere Scheme

Alun Michael: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will publish in full the report provided to his Department on the effectiveness of Starthere as a means of expanding access to information for people who lack internet expertise.

Ben Bradshaw: holding answer 18 May 2009
	The report has recently been received by departmental officials and a decision on publication will be made in due course.

Stem Cells

Hilary Armstrong: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans his Department has to prevent the marketing and selling of unlicensed stem cell therapies to people diagnosed with multiple sclerosis and other neurological conditions; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: Within the United Kingdom, any use of an unlicensed stem cell medicinal product requires the approval of the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency. Organisations involved in collection, processing and storage of stem cells must also have a license from the Human Tissue Authority.
	The Department is aware of a growing number of unlicensed and unproven stem cell products that are being marketed from overseas. Regrettably, such marketing falls outside the jurisdiction of the UK. The Department, NHS Choices and the Gene Therapy Advisory Committee have issued warnings and provided advice on their respective websites for anyone who may be considering such 'treatments'.

Surgery

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many operations were cancelled for non-clinical reasons in each strategic health authority area in each of the last three years; and what percentage of all scheduled operations this represents in each area.

Ben Bradshaw: Data on last minute cancellations for non-clinical reasons in each strategic health authority in England are shown in the following table.
	A last minute cancellation is one that occurs on the day the patient was due to arrive, after they have arrived in hospital or on the day of their operation.
	The number of last minute cancellations is also included in the Care Quality Commission's annual health check assessments.
	
		
			  Number of last minute cancelled operations for non-clinical reasons 
			   Number of cancelled operations  As a percentage of all elective admissions 
			  Area  2006-07  2007-08  2008-09 to date (3 quarters)  2006-07  2007-08  2008-09 to date (3 quarters) 
			 England 52,005 57,382 43,852 0.9 0.9 0.9 
			 North East 2,333 2,567 1,949 0.6 0.6 0.6 
			 North West 8,415 8,973 6,271 1.0 0.9 0.8 
			 Yorkshire and The Humber 5,655 7,183 5,335 0.8 1.1 1.0 
			 East Midlands 4,246 4,331 3,532 0.9 0.9 0.9 
			 West Midlands 4,760 5,587 4,652 0.7 0.8 0.8 
			 East of England 5,633 6,893 4,839 1.0 1.1 1.0 
			 London 8,153 8,662 7,288 0.9 0.9 0.9 
			 South East Coast 3,657 3,518 2,595 1.0 1.0 0.8 
			 South Central 3,670 3,472 2,344 1.0 0.8 0.7 
			 South West 5,483 6,196 5,047 0.8 0.8 0.9 
			  Notes:  1. 2008-09 figures for quarters one to three only. Quarter four will be published on 5 June 2009.  2. Activity figures based on number of elective admissions in the year. This is an approximation to the number of operations.  Source:  QMCO Cancelled Operations, monthly activity return.